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Federal authorities’ dismantling of regional paramilitaries has created an opportunity for al-Shabaab to strengthen its presence in Somali region.
The leaders of Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti held a regional summit in Mogadishu last February where they agreed to launch a joint campaign against the al-Shabaab militant group operating in Somalia, describing it as a threat to regional stability.
The Somali Armed Forces, with the backing of the international allies and African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), have also intensified their fighting against al-Shabaab, with the goal to pursue and remove any threat it poses to regional stability.
The joint operation is set to begin soon in Somalia’s South West State and Jubaland, two territories bordering Ethiopia. Ethiopian troops, which invaded Somalia from 2006 to 2009 and have been heavily involved in combating al-Shabaab ever since, are expected to play a crucial role in the efforts to liberate these two states from the Salafi-jihadist group.
On 6 June, al-Shabaab responded by sending two suicide bombers to attack a contingent of Ethiopian troops stationed in Dolow, a town in Somalia along the border with Ethiopia, which resulted in renewed fighting between the two groups.
While military tacticians in the region meticulously orchestrate a strategy to defeat al-Shabaab within Somalia, Ethiopia is deploying a strategy that limits the capabilities of local regional forces that understand jihadist tactics and have been a critical tool in protecting the country’s eastern and southern borders.
Mounting Resistance
Following the announcement of the joint operation, al-Shabaab leaders reportedly convened a consultation meeting attended by more than a hundred delegates from different areas in an undisclosed location in Somalia and devised a plan to counter the impending coordinated attack on their strongholds.
A communiqué issued at the end of the al-Shabaab leadership meeting stated that the Mujahideen (those engaged in jihad) and the Somali people must work together to repel the second phase of the “crusader campaign” led by Ethiopian invaders with their lives and wealth, just as they did in thwarting the previous campaign of the “apostate tribal militia.”
These actions have allegedly caused al-Shabaab to step up its presence in Ethiopia.
A source close to the action indicates that al-Shabaab leaders believe the greatest threat will come from Ethiopia, so they have prepared a plan to counter the Ethiopian forces in particular and, more broadly, the Black Lion operation, for which they devised a two-pronged strategy.
The militant group’s first strategy is to start a guerilla war within Ethiopia, specifically in parts of Somali and Oromia regions.
According to the source, 600 to 1,000 al-Shabab fighters have infiltrated Ethiopia during recent weeks, where some are already working as casual laborers in areas between Afcade/Hargeele, Shabele, and Weeb rivers to El Kare of Somali region and Bale mountains in Oromia.
Moreover, al-Shabaab’s recent attacks on Ethiopian military bases are believed to have planted hundreds of al-Shabaab members in southeast Ethiopia’s Bale mountains with the intention of carrying out future attacks within the country.
Al-Shabaab fighters in Ethiopia had reportedly stockpiled enough food, ammunition, and other supplies that can last for three months.
The second strategy is to establish an active front in the Bakool and Gedo regions of Somalia, where they intend to bog down Ethiopian forces in the event of an attack.
It should be recalled that Ethiopian forces repelled an al-Shabaab incursion in July 2022 after the group targeted some border towns in Somali region. An estimated 500 to 800 fighters marched 150 kilometers inside Ethiopia before being repulsed by regional special forces.
The incident demonstrated the group’s determination and capability to expand its operations beyond Somalia’s borders.
Locals Recruited
Ethiopia had long been seen to be an impenetrable environment for terrorist activities due to its superior intelligence compared to Kenya which suffered several devastating attacks at the hands of al-Shabaab.
However, in the last three years the country has experienced an increase in the number of Ethiopians radicalized and recruited into Islamic organizations such as al-Shabaab and the Islamic State.
Although terrorist acts have been rare in Ethiopia, there has been a significant surge in jihadist groups’ interest in extending their operations following the war in Tigray from 2020 to 2022.
Al-Shabaab and other Jihadist groups see an opportunity to recruit more fighters within Ethiopia in the coming years, owing to the vast number of unemployed and idle youths living in villages and rural areas of the country.
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Jihadist militants target youth who are disgruntled with the system and marginalized communities with grievances who are motivated to change their condition, even if it means resorting to violence.
Recently, extremist militant groups have increased their online propaganda by using languages that are commonly used in the region such as Somali, Swahili, Amharic, Oromo, and Arabic.
In July 2022, a Jihadist group released a 25-minute video titled “Upon the Path of the Conquerors,” which was broadcast in Amharic and subtitled in Arabic. The video was shot in good quality and depicts the military operations, training, and daily life of the Islamic State’s Somalia members, with a focus on Ethiopian fighters.
This video demonstrates how Jihadist organizations are interested in reaching out to attract Amharic-speaking Ethiopians, Somalis, and Eritreans to join Jihadist groups and how they are capable of raising funds outside of their traditional areas.
Despite relentless attacks from al-Shabaab, Islamic State militants have maintained a presence in Somalia since a small group of al-Shabaab members defected and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in October 2015.
While al-Shabaab’s strength is waning due to ongoing regional counterinsurgency operations in Somalia, other terrorist organizations may take over the region if not handled appropriately. As a result, the current operation should target both al-Shabaab and its adversaries.
Resurfacing Tensions
In the past few weeks, the Ethiopian government has been deploying a large number of its military forces to the border areas between Ethiopia and Somalia in preparation for the war against al-Shabab insurgents.
However, these forces have limited knowledge of the area and how the terrorist group operates and, to make matters worse, clashes and mistrust with locals living in the region have been reported from the start.
Moreover, the Ethiopian military is already thinly dispersed and may be ineffective in remote and arid locations such as Somalia. The long-standing distrust between the Ethiopian military and the Somali people may play into the hands of al-Shabaab.
Unfortunately, the newly deployed military in Somali region has started killing and tormenting unarmed citizens in Kebridehar, Godey, Shaykosh, Ayshaca, Gursum, Guradamole, and Tuli-Guuleed.
In one notable incident, the Ethiopian military allegedly killed two civilian and injured ten others on 30 April in Kebridehar, after low-ranking officers got into an argument with local youths. More recently, Ethiopian army members were accused of indiscriminately firing on civilians in Kebridehar on 20 June, killing four people and injuring three others.
These incidents show a lack of coordination and distrust between the Ethiopian military and the local Somali population, and bring back painful memories of crimes committed by the Ethiopian army against Somalis during the EPRDF’s rule.
The Ethiopian army’s relationship with the Somali people has never been good and even the smallest reckless move can cause insecurity throughout the region. As a result, al-Shabaab can use these sentiments to gain momentum by recruiting and operating easily among the local population.
Somalis in Ethiopia believe that the relative serenity, peace, and stability enjoyed by the Somali region over the last five years is vanishing, and that events are spiraling back to the dark days of yesteryear.
Security Vacuum
Ethiopia’s federal government announced its desire to dissolve and incorporate all regional special forces into the national army, federal or regional police, or both, a move that was interpreted as an attempt to curtail local regional autonomy.
On 15 April, the military’s Chief of Staff, Berhanu Jula, declared the process of integration finalized and the regional special forces defunct. As a result, the era of regional special forces came to an end without much difficulty.
Abiy’s recent move to disband regional paramilitaries known as ‘Liyu’ (‘special’) police – which have been responsible for many atrocities since being formed in 2007 – has caused border patrol units to leave their bases prematurely, creating a security vacuum.
It’s understandable that Abiy’s goal is to restore the central government’s monopoly on violence and to mitigate emerging powerful regional forces that could pose a threat to his rule, as happened in Tigray and Amhara regions.
This approach, however, must be applied on a case-by-case basis.
Weakening or dissolving Somali region’s Liyu police now does not serve the purpose of stopping al-Shabaab militants from expanding their presence into the neighboring countries.
Somali Liyu police, despite their many excesses, have been an effective tool for protecting the security of Ethiopia’s eastern and southern border areas. Hence, dissolving or disarming the Somali Liyu police might weaken security at a time when al-Shabaab is building up in border areas.
A two-tiered security approach composed of a strong national army and federal police alongside robust and well-armed regional forces is preferable to the one Abiy envisions. A hasty and chaotic process of demobilization and disarmament will only exacerbate Ethiopia’s security difficulties.
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Main Image: al-Shabaab hostages rescued in Kismayu; 30 May 2014; AMISOM Public Information.
This is the author’s viewpoint. However, Ethiopia Insight will correct clear factual errors.
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The claim that the achievements of the Liyu police force and their contribution to peace and stability in the Somali Region and Ethiopia are overrated or controversial is dismissive and unsupported. The Liyu police force has played a crucial and instrumental role in combating terrorism.
While may be true that the Liyu police force was initially formed to suppress nationalist groups in the Somali region and has been accused of human rights violations and abuses in the past, it is important to recognize the positive change that the force has undergone with significant restructuring and retraining in recent years to improve their professionalism and operate within the confines of the law.
In recent times, the Liyu police have been critical in protecting the local population, stabilizing the borders of the region and countering extremist groups like Al-Shabaab. As someone who both lives and work in Afdheer Zone, I can attest to the terror caused by Al-Shabaab. The decision to replace the Liyu Forces with ENDF has created challenges, the lack of specialized expertise within ENDF has created significant obstacles in the fight against terrorism. The language and cultural barriers have made communication and information sharing between the military and local communities particularly difficult leading to a breakdown in intelligence-gathering efforts. On the contrary, the Liyu police had specialized knowledge in counter-terrorism operations that proved extremely valuable in thwarting Al-Shabaab operations within and beyond the region.
Despite challenges faced by Liyu police, including allegations of human rights abuses and lack of proper training and equipment, their efforts in counterterrorism and cross-border security cannot be overlooked. It is important to acknowledge the dedicated work and sacrifices made by these brave young men and women who have placed the safety and security of their fellow citizens at the forefront of their duty. As such, instead of focusing solely on their shortcomings, we must also acknowledge and praise the positive impact that the Somali Liyu police have made in their region and work towards addressing areas where improvement is necessary.
In conclusion, building trust and ensuring lasting peace and stability requires more than security forces’ recruitment strategies. It involves addressing the underlying causes of conflicts, promoting nationally inclusive policies, and ensuring access to basic services to create a conducive environment for sustainable peace and stability.
The past is to be learned from not lived in.
Last year, (2022), Alshabab terrorist group take surprise attach to SR-SPF based in Yed and Atto along the border
of southwestern region of Somalia, which eventually scaled up border areas between ferfer and Somalia
Hiran region under the Hir-Shabelle state. The terrorist group met quite strong resistance from SR-SPF at
Washaqo in which is ultimately resulted pushing back. If we recall back, last decade the regional special
police force was sole agent taking care of border security however, both communal conflicts and
attempt of Alshabab infiltration were there but their mitigation measures like logistics, and intelligence
was bit stronger. Following the regional special police force restructuring undertaken couple of months
ago had enabled Ethiopian defense force (EDF), to take over border security maneuver including
protecting terrorist infiltration using their network of intelligence and movement monitoring but ineffective as terrerost group amend thier tactics and focusing more on communities mobiliztion and sensitiation program which is quite difficult for EDF members to digest the tactics.
As some people wrongly perceive my message, I am no in anyway suggesting or implying for an occupying army in the region as historically has been the case. It was disastrous policy on the part of the central government for generations.
The said armies, which its members were exclusively drawn from highland groups, had little in common with local population in term of culture, language and other social values. So there were always suspicions, tensions, conflic and gross human right abuses of citizens. There must be an alternative and middle ground option, which is recruiting enough quotas from the locals people and then integrating into national army or the federal police forces at once. It is the only panacea to avoid the pitfalls of future rebellions and nationalist groups of the past. Does Abiy’s current regime has foresight to either avoid it during its tenure or pave way of lasting peace and stability for next regimes and future generations? As things stands now so far, I seriously doubt about it.
Without taking lightly of the potential catalogue
of threats posed by the religious hoodlums and other fanatics like Al-shabab in Ethiopia, its neighbors and the region, the objective of the regional Liyo police inception was somewhat different of what mentioned here. Also, achievements of the force and the significance and role it played as positive agent toward stability and contribution to peace in the Somali Region or Ethiopia as
a whole was overrated, if not controversial one. First, it was not created to keep and promote a peace at all but was to oppress and fight against nationalist groups in the region like the ONLF. It was not created to protect the safety and welfare of the local population but rather to hinder their basic personal rights and freedoms and oppress them at any cost . Second, they used to, invade, terrorize and wrought
havoc at will both within and without international borders like in the neighboring of Oromia region and inside Somalia proper and killed , plundered abused and imprisoned more innocent citizens than done to al-shabab. In the process, the Liyu had perpetuated over the years massive human abuses and violations against civilians. For instance, the flagrant abuse in the Jigjiga jail was the snapshot and backrop of that dark chapter.
Third, it was an oppressive political instrument, not peace dividend, which was at thevdisposal of few personalities and operated like their own private army for the likes of Abdi Ilay and his erstwhile higher ups and their political system that devoted much of the meager national resources for personal aggrandizement and their political objectives and used/misused as they pleased it. There
were no checks and balance any time and no accountability for those crimes whatsoever.
Finally, this force was barely trained and poorly skilled as a law enforcement entity. It lacked any kind of professionalism code of conduct and ethincs prerequisite
for the job description, not to say nothing of the mix of clanish culture, nepotism and curruption that plugued in .
As per solution to the potential security weakness security and concern in the region? I would argue a contingent, atleadt couple of thousands, of well trained, well disciplined and knowledgable people should be recruited from diverse community in the region and integrated into the national army. Preferably officers and the at midlevel ranks would be helpful. They effectively can play positive role and lead the way unlike the previous marauding and lawless mass army.
The claim that the achievements of the Liyu police force and their contribution to peace and stability in the Somali Region and Ethiopia are overrated or controversial is dismissive and unsupported. The Liyu police force has played a crucial and instrumental role in combating terrorism.
While may be true that the Liyu police force was initially formed to suppress nationalist groups in the Somali region and has been accused of human rights violations and abuses in the past, it is important to recognize the positive change that the force has undergone with significant restructuring and retraining in recent years to improve their professionalism and operate within the confines of the law.
In recent times, the Liyu police have been critical in protecting the local population, stabilizing the borders of Somali region and countering extremist groups like Al-Shabaab. As someone who both live and work in Afdheer Zone, I can attest to the terror caused by Al-Shabaab.
Following the replacement of the Somali region’s Liyu Forces by ENDF, it has become clear that the ENDF faces limitations due to language, cultural barriers, and lack of specialized interpretation in combating terrorist tactics. On the contrary, the Liyu police had specialized knowledge in terms of information, intelligence, and expertise in counter-terrorism operations that proved extremely valuable in foiling Al-Shabaab operations within and beyond the region.
Nevertheless, the contribution of liyu police in counterterrorism and preventing cross-border incursions by Al shabaab cannot be denied. It is important to recognize and appreciate the hard work and sacrifices made by our youngsters to ensure the safety and security of the local population. Therefore, rather than dismissing their achievements, it is important to acknowledge the positive role in the region while also recognizing areas where improvement is needed.
Building trust and ensuring lasting peace and stability requires more than security forces’ recruitment strategies. It involves addressing the underlying causes of conflicts, promoting nationally inclusive policies, and ensuring access to basic services to create a conducive environment for sustainable peace and stability.
The past is to be learned from not lived in.