By Darod Farah [a digital journalist and development communication expert]
Since its deployment in January 2007, the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia has made limited tangible progress in the fight against al-Shabab.
Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked terror group, emerged from the remnants of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) — an Islamist movement that, at its height, seized control of Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia. In response, Ethiopian forces, with the backing of the United States and Britain, intervened to oust the ICU and reinstall the Transitional Federal Government.
The fall of the ICU fragmented the group, and from its ashes rose al-Shabab, which quickly seized large swathes of southern and central Somalia. The militant group launched relentless attacks against Ethiopian forces, prompting the African Union, with UN Security Council support, to deploy troops from Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Sierra Leone, and Egypt. Kenya would later join the mission in 2011.
Despite billions of dollars invested and years of military operations, al-Shabab has not only endured but remains a potent force, maintaining control over vast territories. The persistent question is — why?
Al-Shabab has frequently boasted in its propaganda about repelling foreign troops, even claiming to procure weapons from African Union soldiers, notably from Ugandan and Burundian contingents, who are allegedly underpaid despite their governments receiving substantial international funding for the mission.
In recent months, however, the Somali National Army (SNA) has intensified operations against al-Shabab strongholds, reclaiming territory and reinvigorating public confidence in the national forces. This resurgence has reignited debate over the role and relevance of African Union troops in Somalia.
Critics argue that many of these foreign forces seldom leave their bases, conduct limited patrols, and fail to support the Somali army’s frontline operations. Somalis are increasingly questioning the necessity of maintaining troops from seven countries who appear disengaged while their governments continue to receive generous defense aid under the guise of combating terrorism.
It is time for the African Union and the UN Security Council to reevaluate their strategy in Somalia. If foreign peacekeepers are unwilling or unable to actively assist the Somali National Army in dismantling al-Shabab’s network, their presence serves little purpose.
A pragmatic solution would be to redirect international funding towards strengthening the Somali National Army — enabling the recruitment of additional personnel, acquisition of modern weaponry, and sustained operations to reclaim the nation’s sovereignty.
Ultimately, Somalia’s long-term security will be determined not by foreign troops, but by a well-equipped, disciplined, and united national force, supported by its people.
