Government Loses State

U.S. Strategy in Somalia Did Not Pay Off

Somalia’s government had to pay a high price for the latest cooperation with a rebel group: government participation. This new power-sharing shows Mogadishu’s desperation. The attempt to establish the transitional government with the use of international help since 2004 has proven unsuccessful — much like the strategy to win government influence by integrating rebels.

President Sharif Sheik Ahmed, governing for one year now, used to be a rebel himself. The integration of so-called “moderate Islamists” around him failed to lead to success. On the contrary, the government lost even more of its power. Once the rebels cooperate, they are considered traitors and other militias will fill their role. In spite of that, in the U.S., the highly influential Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) claims that even al-Shabaab, an organization close to al-Qaida, could participate in the government as long as they do not cooperate with foreign terror groups. The U.S. should accept the “governance of Islamism,” claims CFR, as support for the transitional government has been deemed counter-productive.

The U.S. strategy in Somalia did not pay off. To claim that al-Shabaab, which demands the withdrawal of peace troops, will prove to be “moderate” when participating in the government, however, is wishful thinking. In fact, this would fragment the government even more.