Abudwaq, Somalia – At least five people were killed when militiamen ambushed a convoy in central Somalia and seized heavy weapons, local government officials and residents reported on Tuesday. This attack follows seven months after the lifting of a decades-long arms embargo.
The convoy, traveling with a security escort near the town of Abudwaq on Monday, was attacked by militiamen from a local clan who overpowered the security forces. The arms, including machine guns, anti-aircraft weapons, and rocket-propelled grenades, were reportedly sourced from neighboring Ethiopia.
“Unfortunately, five people died from both sides yesterday over weapons,” stated Ahmed Shire, a security adviser to the president of Galmudug State, where Abudwaq is located. “We understand the weapons fell into the hands of civilians.”
Rashid Abdi, an analyst with the Sahan Research think-tank, described the incident as “the single most serious incident of arms proliferation in central Somalia” and expressed concern that some of the weapons would likely be acquired by al Shabaab, an al Qaeda affiliate. Writing on X, Abdi criticized the lifting of the arms embargo on Somalia, calling it a “big strategic mistake.”
Background and Implications
The UN Security Council fully lifted the last restrictions of an arms embargo on Somalia in December, a move the Somali government said was necessary to address security threats and strengthen national forces. However, the country has been battling an insurgency by al Shabaab for nearly two decades. The African Union peacekeepers are gradually reducing their presence, transferring more responsibility to Somali forces. Both the AU and Somali governments have cautioned about a potential security vacuum if the drawdown happens too quickly.
Clan-based militias, which have fought alongside government forces against al Shabaab in central Somalia, have also engaged in conflicts with each other over land and resources.
This recent ambush underscores the fragile security situation in Somalia and raises concerns about the potential misuse of newly acquired weapons by non-state actors, further complicating efforts to stabilize the region.
As Somalia navigates its security challenges, the international community will be closely monitoring the implications of lifting the arms embargo and its impact on the stability of the region.