Unveiling Shadows: Implications of the Shilamadow Village Incident on Somalia’s Security

Foresight for Practical Solutions (FPS) has conducted a brief investigation into the tragic incident that took place in Shilamadow near Abudwak city in Galmudug on July 15, 2024. The incident involved a highly trained and well-organized clan militia locally known as Kaba-qolof (Maawisley version in North Galgadud) that ambushed and confiscated an inbound weapons shipment originating from Ethiopia and destined for locations inside Somalia.

Following its investigation, FPS has determined that the true owners of the weapons remain largely unknown. FPS has further concluded that this incident will have significant implications for both Somalia’s ongoing war on the Al Shabaab terror group and the resultant perceptions it will have on the 32-year UNSC arms embargo that was lifted from Somalia last year.

In FPS’s analysis, the response from Villa Somalia to this incident will hold crucial importance as it could impact the overall security arrangements in Somalia, especially concerning the appropriateness of bilateral partners supplying required arms and military supplies to the country’s armed forces.

Therefore, FPS firmly believes that it is imperative for the government to unveil the various roles played by local actors in the smuggling of these weapons into Somalia.

Of particular interest will be explaining why Somalia National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) was involved in escorting the shipment from deep inside Ethiopia and also revealing the official on duty in Mogadishu who issued the “shoot-to-kill” order to the NISA agents on the theater of the incident. FPS believes that this hasty order – in the place of adhering to standard protocols by alerting the Galmudug authorities and clan elders in the area – has resulted in the fatal conflict with the Kaba-qolof group that ended in Kaba-qolof commandeering the entire shipments.

FPS’s ultimate assessment is that clarifying these details to the public and international partners will be crucial for ensuring credibility, accountability, as well as averting similar incidents in the future.

FPS: Fostering thoughts; forging futures.