• Ordeal of a people rising from the ruins of war
We arrived Aden Abule International Airport, Mogadishu, Somalia, on Monday, November 5, to a scorching sun accompanied by a warm sea breeze from the Indian Ocean. It was a contrast from the ice-cold east winds that greeted us on arrival at the Jomo Kenyetta International Airport Nairobi, our first stop from Lagos.
Though not as busy as other international airports, Aden Abule, constructed for Somalia by the Turkish Government, has massive security architecture. After paying $60 each as visa fees and undergoing the Somali Immigration procedures, we were taken by our host, the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Police Component spokesman Freeman Tetey, a Ghanaian Superintendent, to standby coaster and hilux vehicles for onward transfer to the Airport Hotel located within the green (secure) zone.
We were allowed time to freshen up, eat and get few hours of rest following complaints from the Nigerian team and their Ghanaian counterparts about the delays encountered as well as the fatigue experienced by half of the journalsts.
About two hours later, we were assembled at the hotel’s conference hall where we were briefed about security, safety and rules of engagement of participants. We were handed waiver and indemnity forms to fill just as AMISOM safety officer, Lawrence Makete, spoke on the unpredictability of Somalia and the prevalence of Hepatitis A, B, C and D.
Makete had specifically emphasised the need to always put on body armours whenever on a mission to town and that journalists must stick to guides, routines of the mission.
“You must always move as a group. Ensure you put on your body armours whenever you are being taken out of the green (secure) zone. Mogadishu is highly unpredictable. Although Al-Shabaab has been pushed out of the capital, they still use disgruntled elements to launch attacks,” said Maketete, who also warned that there was prevalence of Hepatitis A, B, C and D in the country.
There was an instant panic signal as we looked at one another in utter disbelief about the things we have been told. Makete’s warnings stuck with me throughout that trip as I ensured that my body armours were not used by another person.
Those warnings were later re-echoed by Madeira during our meeting with him the following day. Though he wasted no time in telling us business was booming and life returning to Mogadishu, the SRCC as he is called, had no pretence on the security threats posed by Al-Shabaab.
“They (Al-Shabaab) plant IEDs in vehicles and drop them at target locations. We are dealing with an insurgent group which uses terrorist methods to achieve its goal. They try to radicalise and misinform disgruntled youths whom they recruit for their purpose. Their target is to stop or halt the movement of AMISOM on major routes.
“They use IEDs to slow down AMISOM and Somali Police Force (SPF), halt development, impede trade and advance towards capturing power in the country and then implement their objective of building a caliphate, which is impossible.
“They target high profile places where a minor activity can produce maximum impact in the media. They attack public offices, hotels, road interchanges. They now use magnet IEDs and plant them on targeted individuals such as journalists, government officials, prominent business people.
“They have started to use anti-mine vehicles and all the methods they can get. But they are less present when it comes to carrying out complex attacks and ambushes. It shows clearly that they are facing some challenges with recruiting more young people. Their number is diminishing,” he said.
A night out
It was around 10pm on Wednesday November 6 and teenagers between ages 12 and 15 could be sighted metres away playing football at an open space, while food and snack sellers exhibited their trades nearby. Though the sky was dark, the street lights illuminated the neatly paved roads making it easy for anyone to see objects from the Mine Resistant and Ambush Protective (MRAPs) vehicles with 12.5mm machine guns and snipers mounted above, which were provided for the tour by the AMISOM.
Despite the features of a mega city observed in Mogadishu that night, the effects of war could be seen in old, abandoned buildings with bullet holes evident in them. The excitement on the faces of the football playing teenagers turned to suspicion as soon as they sighted foreigners in their midst. The traders did not hesitate to pack their ware and retire as well.
The reason for their withdrawal and over suspicion wasn’t far-fetched. This is a people who have seen nothing but war for three decades. The latest was last Friday’s triple vehicle borne Improvised Exclusive Devices (VIEDs) targeted at a hotel at Kilometre Four, frequented by politicians and members of parliament which left at least 50 people dead and over 100 injured.
Being a first timer in Somalia and experiencing the first night outing in Mogadishu, this reporter was amazed to see that the streets were well illuminated with people going about their normal businesses. For them, sounds of gunshots and bomb blasts have become normal since the country slid to civil war in the early 1990s.
The war, which saw the destruction of the country’s beautifully painted Italian styled houses, churches and other public infrastructure as well as the economic mainstay- agriculture- also hindered international trade and commerce through Africa’s longest coastline.
The night outing was, however, cut short after officials of the Somali Police Force (SPF), who arrived the scene, hinted on the possibility of an attack. According to them, news travel fast in Mogadishu and any of the locals could be an Al-Shabaab apologist, who could simply notify the group and there would be an ambush.
Somalia, hitherto a pillar in the continent and the bride of European and American colonialists, was on standstill for 30 years following the outbreak of the war, said Head of Madeira.
According to public statistics, the country, which has an estimated population of 14.5 million people, has suffered over a million casualty, including the about 600 killed during last October 14 blast at a Mogadishu hotel. Several millions are said to have been internally displaced also.
The bloodbaths that followed the ouster of Somali’s tyrannic ruler Mohammad Barre, in 1991 led to a total collapse of the country. Rebels and militants took over government houses and controlled critical infrastructure of state.
The society became brutish as more militant groups sprang up. With too many arms and ammunition in wrong hands, unimaginable violence became the order of day. Foreign businesses and embassies moved to neighbouring Kenya and other East African countries; rebels took to kidnapping expatriates and hijacking vessels on the Indian Ocean, costing the world over $20billion annual loss.
Violence escalated with the birth of the Islamic Court Union (ICU) said to have supervised the killing of Christians, including eight Catholic Bishops, burning down churches and missionary hospitals. Somalia became a red zone with unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
Efforts by the United Nations to restore peace in the country suffered massive setbacks, no thanks to racial and cultural differences. Consequently, in 2007, member-states of the AU backed by the UN, agreed to move into Somalia for the restoration of peace. This move saw the deployment of over 20,000 peacekeeping veterans, including soldiers and police officers drawn across Africa.
Gains of AMISOM
Since its establishment, Madeira said, AMISOM had made steady progress towards rebuilding Somalia, which has seen the return of foreign businesses and embassies to Mogadishu. The mission has also ensured steady capacity building for the Somali National Army (SNA) and the Somali Police Force (SPF), both expected to take complete control of the country’s security by 2021 when AMISOM will wind down its operations.
“We see clearly that the Somali National Army is gaining shape. They are becoming more capable of handling their own operations, which is a positive sign. AMISOM is gradually pulling out. The mission is expected to wind up operations by 2021,but I do not see a complete withdrawal. It will be gradual to avoid a situation whereby the gains recorded are jeopardized,” said Madeira.
Although Somalia is currently embargoed from purchasing certain weapons, the mission is leaving nothing to chance, as the country’s border with Yemen is being closely monitored to ensure weapons are not smuggled in through that side.
“We also monitor cash flow. We do not want sponsors of these terrorists to have easy access to sending money. We are doing all these things and also training the government on how to do them. Already, government is now acquiring facilities to do these things.
“We also check extortion by terrorists. They usually contact people and tell them to pay certain percentage of their salaries to them. We work with our partners to carry out targeted operations,” Madeira stated.
Asked what AMISOM was doing to ensure that terrorists do not get into power under the guise of changed persons, he said the mission was being attentive.
“We are very attentive to ensure criminals are not placed in high places so that they are not allowed to put the entire system we are building at risk. We would not want a situation where a high profile citizen would commit high profile crime in a high profile place.
“But this is a sovereign country which has got its own laws. We respect the sovereignty of this country despite everything. If the leadership of Somalia says the laws are fit for the country at the moment, who are we to say they are not fit?
You also have to bear in mind that this is a civil war. It is a complicated thing. Where do you place terrorists, nationalists? It is not a straight forward thing,” said Madeira.
Nigeria Police raising the bar in Somalia
They call them the darling of all. Their professionalism and commitment are unequalled. Nigeria is one of three countries that donated personnel to the Formed Police Units (FPU) to Somalia comprising 160- member force equipped with arms, ammunition and armoured vehicles. These officers provide backup for both Somali Police personnel and other mission operatives round the clock.
Aside the FPUs, Nigeria also have sent Independent Police Officers (IPOs) who, like their counterparts from five other African countries, are responsible for training and capacity building of the Somali Police Force.
“Nigeria Police officers shine in Somalia. If you go to the state where Nigeria Police personnel are operating, you will see they train the Somalia police, mentor them, indicate to them how to do good policing. They teach them proper cordon and search operations, detect and approach to terrorism and more importantly, community policing.
“They run risks, particularly the FPU. They patrol the roads at night and during the day. The police are the darling of everyone. The locals are so appreciative of what the police are doing. They have outstanding level of professional experience and the efficiency with which they do it; the African way with which they handle delicate matters; the way they move from mentorship to helping to build certain things is extraordinary. These guys are the heroes in this war environment,” said the SRCC in commendation of the Nigeria Police contingent.
Woman Inspector Rola Shuaibu, who drives an MRAP vehicle and speaks fluent Somali barely seven months in the mission, belongs to this category. She had never seen nor ridden an armoured vehicle until she arrived Somalia, where she resolved to put in her best.
“At first I was scared but then, I told myself I can do it. I always remind myself that I am here representing my country and that I have no other option than to be the best police officer I can be. We were trained for several days on how to drive the MAMBA (MRAPs). I am one of four women in my set and the only Nigerian selected.
Haruna Ismaila, the Contigent Commander of Nigeria FPU, said a total of 138 men and 22 women were deployed for the mission. He said they were deployed as a tactical force to restore peace as well as teach the Somali Police operational guidelines.
“We are operationally ready. Our men have their weapons round the clock and we respond swiftly. We came with our weapons from Nigeria. It has not been so easy but we are overcoming them. We have highly skilled EOD professionals in our midst and we have ensured that those who came from Nigeria without experience in EOD have been trained on it.
“So far, we have been able to contain some of the threats posed by the terrorists who plant IEDs and mines on the roads. We usually intercept most of these bombs and detonate them without casualties. The SPF is also being trained on these techniques.
“If you go round the town, you will see the SPF on patrol. They are on their feet in defence of their country. I believe in a short time, the SPF would fully be capable to take charge of their internal security.
“We are excelling here because we have the resources at our disposal and we enjoy the cooperation of the people. When the people appreciate what you are doing for them, you put in your best to see that you excel. In Nigeria, we expect a similar behaviour. If you are operating in a community, people should cooperate with the police and the police will be ready to give their lives to protect them.”
The SPF is undergoing reforms and also getting trainings on human rights, international policing practices and gender issues. Already women comprised 10 percent of the SPF and plans are underway to increase the numbers, said the commissioner.
“We do encourage women to join but we also encourage the current women who are part of the police force to be more visible in the force. The SPF is the sole institution that is in charge of internal security across the country and so far, we are taking over certain duties that AMISOM used to do.
“We recently took over the security of the biggest stadium, which used to be under the care of AMISOM Police. We have also taken over the Mogadishu University. We are making preparations to take over other places and regions and I am confident that with the support of the public, we will have no issues.
“The Somali Police Force has been in existence for 75 years. We have undergone several phases and faced several challenges. We have operated under extreme situations. So, we are making efforts to ensure that our police force is very skilled. We are recruiting new persons and also training those in the system,” he said.
