American Counterterrorism Strategy in Somalia Has Unintended Consequences

[Deeq A.]

Unheeded: In 2019 Said Mohamed Rageh went on record for calling for a central command for all Puntland forces.

Bosaso (Commentary) — Puntland State of Somalia has finally learned a bitter lesson about parallel forces. Founded nineteen years ago as a part of the war on terror campaign, Puntland Security Force had transformed itself into a proxy force that reports to its funder: the United States. It was the responsibility of the legislature of Puntland to ensure that PSF (then Puntland Intelligence Service) operate within the constitutional framework of Puntland.

In 2002 militant extremism was unheard of in Somalia. The rationale for establishing a force trained and funded by a foreign country for an autonomous administration in the Horn of Africa lacked substance. Presence of PSF within Puntland security apparatus means juggling two opposing counterterrorism strategies, one devised by the United States, and another based on the assessment and responses made by Puntland State of Somalia.

The United States has been funding a force whose Commanders have grown independent of Puntland State institutions to the point of viewing equipment and property of the force as their personal assets. It is unfair to blame only the outgoing Commander for trying to cling on to perks and assets; the whole Puntland political class shares the blame for the current stand-off in Boosaaso between PSF and Puntland State defence forces.

America’s counterterrorism strategy has had unintended consequences in Somalia.

In 2019 Puntland Minister for Ports Said Mohamed Rageh told Daljir Radio that Puntland State needed a central command for all forces based in Puntland. “Forces in Puntland are accountable to funders who pay their salaries” said Rageh.

Puntland Security Force and Puntland Maritime Police Force spokesmen separately rebutted allegations of organizational independence within Puntland. PSF and PMPF were established without proper consultations. If anything, it damages the status of Puntland State as a champion of federalism in Somalia.

If two security forces funded by foreign countries can operate in Puntland State, the question arises as to whether the unintended consequences of American counterterrorism strategy fuels emergence of militant extremism in Somalia.

Adan M. Dawad

The post American Counterterrorism Strategy in Somalia Has Unintended Consequences appeared first on Puntland Post.