Ali Samatar

I share the profound grief of the families and fellow soldiers of the Somali National Army personnel killed and wounded in yesterday’s al-Shabaab ambush near Jameeco. May Allah have mercy on those who fell, grant the wounded a swift recovery, and give strength to the families who now bear the heaviest burden. They deserve the full care, support and assistance of the nation for which their loved ones sacrificed so much. Those who fell were among the finest our nation has trained; soldiers who had spent years fighting al-Shabaab. It is deeply troubling that such experienced troops were committed to an offensive arising from a political dispute that should have been resolved through dialogue. Whenever our forces are diverted from confronting the common enemy and drawn into political conflicts among Somalis, the national fight against al-Shabaab is weakened. The group has once again demonstrated its willingness to exploit the divisions and openings that result. At a moment of such loss, the government owes the nation a full and honest account of what happened, including the decisions that led to the operation and the circumstances in which our soldiers were exposed to this attack. Accountability is not optional, and the sacrifice of our troops must not be obscured by political expediency. Finally, our armed forces must be allowed to focus on the mission for which they were built: defending the nation and protecting its people. Somalia’s political differences are serious, but they cannot be settled on the battlefield. They require dialogue, compromise and genuine consensus. That process must begin, before more Somali lives are lost. Our soldiers have shown courage and made the ultimate sacrifice. They deserve political leadership that matches their courage, honours their sacrifice and puts the security of the nation above political interests.