The New Policing Model (NPM) is a fundamental framework adopted in Somalia for the governance and delivery of policing services, with a clear division of responsibilities between the federal and state levels. It was endorsed by the National Leadership Forum in June 2016 and later included in the Security Pact at the London Conference on Somalia in May 2017.
The NPM forms part of Somalia's broader National Security Architecture (NSArch) and is central to the transition of security responsibilities from international forces to Somali security institutions.
Structure
Under the NPM, Somalia is adopting a federated police system with two tiers. Each level reports to its respective Ministry of Internal Security and manages its own training and recruitment. In practice this means:
- Federal Police (Somali Police Force): Overseen by the Federal Ministry of Internal Security, responsible for nationwide security tasks and coordination.
- State Police: Each Federal Member State (and the Benadir/Mogadishu region) maintains its own police under the state government, focusing on local law enforcement and community policing.
Both tiers recruit and train their officers but are expected to follow common standards. Technical committees in each state coordinate priorities and ensure consistency. The ultimate goal is to harmonize policies, procedures, and training across federal and state police so the public receives professional, accountable policing services.
Composition of the Police Force
The 2017 NSArch envisioned a Somali police force of 32,000 personnel, including the Coastguard and Darawiish forces, divided between federal and state levels. In 2023, the revised NSArch expanded this target to 40,000 officers, with a proposed distribution of 20,000 federal police and 4,000 state police for each of the five member states.
Darawiish Forces
The Darawiish are special paramilitary police units with militarized roles, often engaged in offensive and defensive operations, as well as maintaining law and order beyond urban centers and major supply routes. They are designed as reserve forces that can support the Somali National Army (SNA) during national crises. The NPM clearly defines Darawiish units at both federal and state levels, with a role in stabilizing newly recovered areas.
Objectives and Approach
As outlined in the Heegan Strategic Police Plan, the NPM seeks to establish basic police services across Somalia while upgrading existing capacities through reform and restructuring.
Shift in Focus
The NPM aims to shift the Somali Police’s primary focus from counterinsurgency to core policing tasks, including: Criminal investigation, Public order, Crime prevention and Community policing to build trust with local populations
Security Sector Governance
A key objective is to strengthen accountability and oversight of security and justice providers, and to enhance the capacity of line ministries and governing bodies to manage their institutions. This involves ensuring police operate within a structured institutional framework backed by appropriate legislation and procedures.
Service Delivery
The NPM seeks to ensure sustainable policing functions across all Federal Member States, providing sufficient police capacity to allow the military to withdraw from temporary security roles in newly stabilized areas.
Human Rights and Gender Sensitivity
Police training emphasizes human rights and gender sensitivity. Soldiers receiving international stipends are required to undergo human rights training as part of broader accountability measures.
Implementation
Since its development, steady progress has been made in building the processes and structures required to implement the NPM.
- Biometric Registration: In March 2019, Somalia completed a two-year biometric registration process for all soldiers. Salaries are now paid directly into individual bank accounts, improving transparency and reducing corruption.
- Weapons and Ammunition Management: Accountability systems have been introduced to regulate the distribution of weapons and ammunition.
- Joint Police Programme (JPP): Launched in June 2018 and implemented by various UN agencies, the JPP has provided equipment, built police stations and headquarters at the FMS level, and supported the drafting of state-level police acts to establish a legal framework for policing.