Somalia’s security challenge is not simply a shortage of recruits or foreign training. The deeper problem is that the Federal Government of Somalia struggles to retain, equip, pay, and deploy trained personnel once they enter the Somali National Army and related security forces. As African Union forces continue to transition out and Somali authorities take greater responsibility for national security, the gap between training soldiers and sustaining them has become one of the country’s most serious vulnerabilities.

Fiscal and Institutional Constraints

Building a credible national army requires steady revenue, reliable payroll systems, logistics, equipment, pensions, and medical support. Somalia’s limited tax base leaves the government heavily dependent on donors, even as security consumes a large share of public spending. This creates a persistent mismatch: troops can be trained, but the state often cannot sustain them in the field with regular salaries, ammunition, vehicles, fuel, rations, or evacuation capacity.

Political Fragmentation and Clan Dynamics

Security sector reform is also constrained by Somalia’s fragmented political order. Tensions between Mogadishu and Federal Member States such as Jubaland, Puntland, and Southwest State have slowed efforts to build a unified national security architecture. Clan loyalties often compete with national command structures, while regional leaders may prefer semi-autonomous forces over full integration into the national army. As a result,........

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