Somalia
UN Special Rapporteur: Somalia unlikely to achieve military victory over Al-Shabaab.
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May 27, 2025
MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism, Ben Saul, has called on Somalia’s federal government and its international allies to pursue political dialogue with Al-Shabaab, warning that a military solution alone is insufficient to end the Islamist group’s two-decade-long insurgency.
During a recent visit to the Somali capital Mogadishu, Saul underscored the need for reconciliation with elements of Al-Shabaab willing to negotiate, citing the limitations of prolonged armed conflict and the toll it continues to take on civilians.
Saul told reporters.I do think there is a consensus now that there can’t be a military solution to Al-Shabaab,
Saul also raised alarm over human rights violations committed by pro-government clan militias in the Hiran region, accusing them of war crimes, including the summary beheading of captured militants during recent clashes.I encourage the government to intensify its efforts to negotiate with receptive elements of Al-Shabaab and to seek a political reconciliation rooted in Somali customs of dialogue.
The U.N. expert further criticized the Somali authorities for widespread violations of press freedom. He said journalists have been arbitrarily detained, intimidated, and had their social media accounts and websites suspended simply for reporting on terrorism-related matters.
These actions are often justified using vaguely worded laws and directives against the dissemination of terrorist content, he said, warning that such measures are prone to abuse and constitute clear violations of fundamental human rights.
Following an inspection of Mogadishu Central Prison, Saul described the facility as severely overcrowded and inhumane. Originally built two centuries ago to house a few hundred inmates, the prison now detains over 1,600 people, most of whom are confined for 23 hours a day without access to education, vocational training, or recreational programs.
This kind of prison condition risks radicalizing detainees further and undermines long-term counter-terrorism objectives, Saul warned. A punitive approach devoid of rehabilitation only increases the likelihood of recidivism upon release, he added.
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