The United States (U.S.) has issued a press release indicating that it will partially resume providing security assistance and aid to non-mentored components of the Somali National Army (SNA).
The U.S. will resume this implementation on an experimental basis with a unit taking part in critical transition processes starting in Lower Shabelle region of Somalia.
On the basis of internal improvements observed from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), the U.S. assessment indicate both FGS and SNA have undertaken noteworthy efforts to improve accountability over donor resources given to them.
The United States Government, in coordination with the FGS, in December 2017 had paused assistance to non-mentored components of the SNA in December 2017. The United States also had suspended a program paying soldiers $100 monthly stipends in June 2017 after the Federal Government refused to share responsibility for receiving the payments with regional forces fighting the Al-Qaeda affiliate, Al-Shabaab.
The U.S. suspension of aid came after the Somali military repeatedly failed to account for food and fuel among other donations. Washington which also funds the 22,000-strong AU peacekeeping force, became frustrated that successive governments in Mogadishu over years have failed to build a viable national army, capable of taking over the country’s security once the AU forces exits.
The resumption of assistance establishes U.S. confidence that the FGS and SNA will continue to improve accountability and fight corruption that was the genesis towards the aid suspension.
