Somalia is still finding its footing back to stability, through economic reconstruction and security sector reforms. However, militancy of groups such as al Shabab, are undermining the country’s stability and security. Al Shabab still carries on attacks against civilian population, key instalments and strategic interests in Somalia. Latest attacks by al Shabab include the January 1, 2019 on the UN compound in Mogadishu and the January 19, 2019 at Buurhakaba, which killed 58 Ethiopian soldiers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). In a retaliatory attack, the United States of America’s airstrikes, killed 52 al Shabab fighters on January 20, 2019. On the other hand, friction between the Federal Government of Somalia and regional member states, which partly has inspired the December 2018 impeachment attempt against the President of Somalia, is yet another threat to Somalia’s stability.
Somalia’s security and political stability is on the balance. AMISOM’s exit slated for 2020, might compromise the security and stability of the country, since Somali national security agencies seem to lack capacity to take over the responsibility over the country’s security and defence. The conflict between regional states and the federal government, should be peacefully resolved to stabilize the country politically, and the constitution of Somalia should be observed as a guide out of the crisis.
