Mogadishu – Somali government officials and international partners on Wednesday conducted a high-level assessment of the nation’s security sector, emphasizing governance reforms, accountability and long-term sustainability of the armed forces.
The gathering in Mogadishu united representatives from the federal government, the World Bank and other international partners to evaluate advancements and pinpoint deficiencies in critical institutional areas.
Discussions focused on reinforcing legal frameworks, enhancing personnel and payroll management, tightening procurement systems, and advancing pension reforms within the security sector.
Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi stated that Somalia’s security progress should be measured not merely by military victories but also by the strength and integrity of its institutions.
“Security transformation is not measured by operations alone, but by the accountability of forces and the systems that support them,” he explained.
Fiqi emphasized recent achievements, including a nationwide force census and biometric registration system designed to verify troop numbers and establish a credible national registry.
He mentioned that the government is transitioning to a monthly personnel verification system connected to payroll and deployment, ensuring that salaries align with active service.
The minister also stressed the significance of reforms, including the Defense Bill, procurement oversight and the creation of a sustainable pension system, along with support structures for wounded soldiers and families of fallen soldiers.
The federal government representatives highlighted that the reforms are part of broader initiatives to professionalize the Somali National Armed Forces and enhance transparency in public resource management.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Internal Security, Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Abdiqafar Elmi Haange, the Director General of the Presidency, Abdihakim Yusuf, the Senior Defense Affairs Advisor to the President, Jihan Abdullahi Hassan, Hideki Matsunaga, World Bank Country Manager for Somalia, Verena Fritiz, Lead Governance Specialist at the World Bank, and representatives of international partners.
Somalia has achieved progress in recent years in its battle against militant groups such as Al-Shabaab, but officials maintain that sustained reforms are necessary to guarantee lasting stability and effective governance of the security sector.