The stray bullet yesterday that led to the killing at Halane originated from this firefight between the custodial corps and the police force. Too often FGS units have flagrantly exchanged shots in residential & commercial areas. Culprits must be brought to justice. https://twitter.com/Goobjoognews/status/1197127927424540673

How Somalia tackles the issue of rowdy and undisciplined troops will in many ways determine how stabilization efforts fare. Mogadishu is a city teeming with contract killers and other criminal elements. As latest UN Report shows, we’re witnessing a mafia enterprise at its zenith

And it’s not simply mafia groups that employ contract killers; as the last year’s UN Security Council Report established, the FGS employs contract killers to silence critics.

A notorious contract killer employed by the PMO has recently hired American lawyers that once represented the PM to defend himself against litany of criminal cases cases. NGO and commercial entities routinely use contract killers to resolve business disputes.

A notable revelation from this year’s UN Somalia Report has been how for the first time in years, Al Shabab hasn’t exported any charcoal which has previously generated the majority of revenue for the group.

Some, primarily FGS & its allies, have attempted to use this to argue that the anti charcoal efforts are working. This is only partly true & clever by half!

B/c of Shabab’s lucrative extortion ring as documented by both international media & UN, the group no longer relies on the risky & complex charcoal trade. Instead, Al Shabab generates enough revenue through its Mogadishu extortion operations that it no longer needs charcoal trade

The rise of contract killers and Al Shabab’s extortion operations is a consequence of the absence of a professional security force that can tackle complex security issues.

It also highlights the gross incompetence of the government’s security directors. Frequently in Mogadishu hotels & other social spots; Senior security officials are mostly occupied with political and commercial interests and seldom execute their mandate

International partners – and hopefully the FGS one day - need to be cognizant of these disruptive elements and make independent decisions on key issues. As @hysperbole recently wrote, these elements pursue agendas injurious to stability http://inthesetimes.com/features/us-military-somalia-raid-civilian-deaths.html

Somalia’s security needs a total and comprehensive revamp - but it can’t happen under the current government which has been grossly incompetent and systematically infiltrated by Al Shabab.