In a country where trust in security and justice institutions is deeply fractured, reforming these sectors is not optional. It is foundational to any vision of peace, protection, and progress.
In this first edition of our series Making the Case for Reform, we explore why security and justice systems need urgent transformation and examine the priorities, barriers, and opportunities that shape the path forward.
Dib-u-habaynta hay'adaha Amaanka dalka waa wadada aan ku gaari laheen Xasillooni iyo Horumar waara
Waddan kasta oo doonaya inuu gaaro xasillooni iyo horumar waara wuxuu u baahan yahay hay'ado amni iyo caddaalad oo xirfad leh, daacad ah, ku shaqeeya sharciga, una adeega danta guud ee shacabka. Gaar ahaan waddamada ka soo kabanaya ama ku jira marxaladaha amni-darrada, colaadaha sokeeye, iyo dhibaato argagixiso, waxaa lama huraan ah in la helo hay'ado amni iyo caddaalad oo awood u leh soo celinta iyo ilaalinta nabadgelyada iyo dhaqangelinta sharciga. Soomaaliya, oo ah dal soo maray burbur iyo colaado daba-dheeraaday, baahida loo qabo dib-u-habayn ballaaran oo lagu sameeyo laamaha amniga waa mida ugu weyne eey shacabku iyo dowladu ubahanyihiin maanta.
Dhaawacyada Burburkii Dowladnimo iyo Saamaynta Qabyaaladda
Burburkii dowladdii militariga ee Soomaaliya waxa uu ka dhashay colaado baahsan oo sababay kala fogaansho ba'an oo dadka dhexdiisa ah. Meel kasta waxaa ka dhacay gabood-fallo iyo xadgudubyo baahsan oo saameeyay nolosha bulshada. Labaatan iyo shan sano ka hor, markii dib loo soo dhisay dowladda Soomaaliya, waxaa xoogga la saaray dib-u-heshiisiin siyaasadeed. Si loo helo dowlad shaqeysa, ciidankii qaranka waxaa markaa lagu dhisay qaab qabiil; maleeshiyaadkii qabiilada iyo qof kasta oo qori qaadi karaa waxay ku biireen ciidanka dalka. Inkasta oo tallaabadan looga dan lahaa in lagu dhiso dowlad degdeg ah, haddana waxa ay abuurtay caqabado waaweyn.
Caqabaha oo tira badan oo eey ugu horeyaan in ciidankii loo idmay ilaalinta nabadgelyada ay iyagu qeyb ka noqdaan amni-darrada ka jirta dalka. Maalin kasta waxaan maqalnaa askari dilay qof shacab ah, iyo askartii qaranka oo ka qeyb qaatay dagaallada qabiillada. Halkii aan ka filaynay dowlad noo adeegta oo ilaalinaysa xuquuqdeena, waxaa ka dhashay dulmi iyo dil joogto ah. Xaaladdan ayaa waxaa ka sii daray kooxaha xagjirka ah ee dalkeena ka dhigtay gabaad ay ka fuliyaan dilalka iyo dulmiga joogtada ah ee shacabkeena iyo kuwa dalalka dariska ah, taasoo sii kordhisay cakirnanta amniga.
Ciidan Qaran oo Ku Dhisan Fikrad Qaran, Wadaniyad iyo Udeegida danta dadka iyo dalka.
Si xal waara loogu helo dhammaan dhibaatooyinka joogtada ah ee ka jira dalka, waxaa lama huraan ah in la dhiso ciidan qaran oo ku dhisan fikrad qaran iyo wadaniyad, daacad ah, kana madax banaan qabiil, qoys, iyo kooxaysi. Ujeeddadoodu waa inay noqoto ilaalinta iyo u adeegidda danta dadka iyo dalka, iyagoo ka shaqaynaya sidii ay u abuuri lahaayeen jawi nabdoon oo suurogeliya horumar iyo barwaaqo. Ciidan qaran oo noocan oo kale ah ayaa awood u yeelan doona inuu la dagaallamo argagixisada, ka hortago colaadaha sokeeye, una gacan geliyo sharciga cid kasta oo ku xadgudubta.
Qaab Dhismeedka Dib u dhiska iyo Dib u habaynta
Dib-u-dhis iyo dib-u-habeyn ballaaran oo ku dhisan sharci, oo laga wada qeybqaato laguna dhan yahay, ayaan ku heli karnaa ciidan qaran oo noocaan ah. Habka dib-u-habaynta waa inuu noqdaa mid loo wada dhan yahay, iyadoo la raacayo qorshe cad oo ka tarjumaya baahiyaha iyo rajada shacabka Soomaaliyeed. Tani waxay u baahan tahay in la sameeyo:
- Waa in la sameeyaa shuruuc iyo xeerar adag oo lagu maamulo laamaha amniga, kuwaas oo hubinaya in ciidamadu ay ku shaqeeyaan mas'uuliyad iyo daacadnimo.
- Ciidamada waa in la siiyaa tababar ku saabsan Wadaniya, sharciga bini'aadannimada, ilaalinta xuquuqul insaanka, iyo farsamooyinka casriga ah ee xakamaynta dembiyada.
- La Xisaabtan iyo Hufnaan: Waa in la abuuro nidaam adag oo la isku xisaabiyo, tan waxay dhisaysaa kalsoonida shacabka.
- Waa In laga qayb galiya, laga la tashtaa bulshada rayidka ah iyo cidkaste oo eey quseyso. Waa in la abuurayo habab ay shacabku ku dhiban karaan fakirkooda, kaga hadli karaan bahidood iyo nidaam cad oo sharci ah ee soo gudbin karaan cabashooyinkooda iyo talooyinkooda.
Si taas loo gaaro, waxaa lagama maarmaan ah in hoggaanka siyaasadda, dhaqanka, aqoonyahanka, iyo bulshada rayidka ah ay u istaagaan dib-u-dhiskan oo keeni kara xal iyo nabad waarta. Tani maaha hawl sahlan, waxayse u baahan tahay dadaal wadajir ah, go'aan qaadasho adag, iyo aragti fog si Soomaaliya ay u gaarto mustaqbal xasilloon oo barwaaqo ah.
Reforming Security sector Is the Path to Lasting Stability and Progress
Every nation that seeks lasting peace and development needs professional, accountable, and law-abiding security and justice institutions that serve the public good. This is especially true for countries emerging from prolonged conflict or facing insecurity and terrorism. In such contexts, effective security and justice institutions are essential for restoring peace and upholding the rule of law.
A country scarred by state collapse and decades of conflict the need for broad, structural reform of the security sector is one of the most urgent challenges facing both the government and the public.
The Enduring Effects of State Collapse and Clan Influence. The collapse of Somalia military government in 1991 unleashed widespread violence and deepened societal divisions. At the community level, atrocities and rights violations became a tragic norm. When Somalia’s transitional government was re-established 25 years ago, the immediate priority was political reconciliation and forming a functioning state.
To quickly rebuild national security institutions, the new government incorporated clan-based militias and anyone capable of bearing arms into the national forces. While this approach aimed to stabilize the country in the short term, it created serious long-term problems.
Today, those same security forces tasked with maintaining order are often part of the insecurity. Reports of soldiers killing civilians, or national troops engaging in clan conflict, have become disturbingly routine. Instead of a protective force upholding citizens’ rights, the security sector has, in many instances, become a source of harm.
This crisis has been further exacerbated by extremist groups who exploit the chaos to carry out violence against civilians, both within Somalia and in neighboring countries. The result is a deteriorating security environment and a public that feels increasingly unsafe and unprotected.
Building a National Force Committed to Duty and Public Good. To truly address Somalia’s persistent security crisis, the country must build a national security force grounded in patriotism, rule of law, and public interest not clan loyalty or political favoritism. This means creating forces that are:
- Independent from clan and political interference.
- Devoted to protecting the rights and safety of all Somalis.
- Capable of combating terrorism and preventing internal conflict.
- Trusted by the communities they serv.
Such a force would be a cornerstone for peace and development, capable of enforcing the law and defending the nation without bias or abuse.
A Blueprint for Reform and Rebuilding. Building this kind of force requires a broad-based, lawful, and inclusive reform process. Reform must be guided by a clear strategy that reflects the needs and aspirations of the Somali people.
Key priorities include:
- Establishing strong laws and regulations to govern the security sector, ensuring professionalism, accountability, and ethical conduct.
- Providing training on nationalism, human rights, humanitarian law, and modern policing to strengthen the competence and character of personnel.
- Creating robust accountability and oversight mechanisms to restore public trust and reduce impunity.
- Engaging civil society and local communities in shaping security policy and oversight through legal frameworks that allow them to voice concerns, propose reforms, and submit complaints safely and effectively.
Collective Responsibility for Lasting Peace Achieving this vision will require bold leadership and cooperation. Political leaders, traditional elders, intellectuals, and civil society must all take responsibility for leading this reform agenda. This is not an easy task but it is a necessary one.
With collective effort, firm political will, and a long-term vision, Somalia can break the cycle of insecurity and build a peaceful and prosperous future for its people.