Somali problem needs unorthodox solution

Recent reports quoting British sources alleged a plan to recruit mercenaries from former security elite forces to contain the piracy menace along the Somali waters.

The news report revealed that, according to leaked secret UK government documents, the proposed deployment has the approval of both London and the transitional government in Somalia.

In a nutshell, the plan is to seal off Somalia’s coastline, thereby preventing pirates from leaving or returning to shore with illicitly acquired treasure.

Obviously, the initiative is a consequence of Western frustration with escalating pirate activities and rising costs of naval protection and ransom payments.

From an African perspective, however, efforts of this nature should prioritise the plight of innocent Somali families, caught in the crossfire between murderous warlords and fundamentalist extremists since the country deteriorated into its current failed state status.

Indeed, the immediate concern of the international community should be toppling warring factions, who have terrorised Somali citizens for nearly two decades.

The events that have ensued since the ouster Mohammed Siad Barre in 1990 are illustrative of the uniqueness of the conflict. Somalia is one extraordinary tragedy calling for unorthodox solutions, and the British are just about getting it right.

There is no doubt that the ultimate solution to the Somali tragedy is installation of a legitimate government. To achieve that objective, the international community must commit troops to battle suicidal guerrilla groups occupying Somalia.

So far, few African states have shown willingness to send soldiers to the desert country, with some fearing inviting Islamic extremists to target them at home.

Secondly, after witnessing the hurried withdrawal of the American Rangers in the 1990s, few Western states are willing to commit troops to this desolate nation. Indeed, most politicians would hesitate to risk negative public opinion at home should soldiers be harmed during such deployment.

In order to counter Somali extremist fighters effectively, the international community needs a faceless mercenary force such as the planned British former elite forces to take on the fundamentalists, disarm warlords, and send most of these factional leaders to permanent exile.

Such a force should ideally work under UN mandate, have superior fire power, with a clear objective of stabilising Somalia adequately to enable donor agencies to operate freely in the country.

History is full of cases where similar concepts were applied, especially during the era of colonisation when British and other European monarchs empowered private firms like the East India Trading Company to administer states of the size of India, Eastern Africa, and others.

The most recent comparable case is when the US government decided on extensive use of mercenaries in Iraq, diplomatically labelled ‘security contractors’.

Perhaps what it will take to stop the tragedy going on in Somalia is for UN member states to pool funds, make heavy military hardware and arms available, and hire security contractors to recruit mercenaries.

Who knows, perhaps in about six months the people of this devastated nation could be electing a legitimate government?

Mr Osoro is a political analyst and media consultant. Email: osorojb@yahoo.com

Source: The Daily Nation