The Federal Government of Somalia is planning to reform the way internal security institutions are managed, with an emphasis on accountability, institutional coordination and how to build a financially sustainable security system.
This issue was one of the main points discussed at the National Conference on Internal Security held in Mogadishu, which was attended by officials from the federal government, state governments, security agencies, Parliament and international partners.
The discussions at the conference focused on strengthening the oversight and accountability of security institutions, including the Somali Police, the National Intelligence and Security Agency and the Immigration and Citizenship Agency.
They also discussed how to clarify the relationship and responsibilities of the various institutions, with the aim of finding a system that clearly defines who has the authority to oversee and who is responsible for implementing security operations.
Coordination between the federal government and the states was also discussed, with an attempt to unify security plans and reduce the gap between federal and state security agencies. The Minister of Internal Security held separate meetings on this issue with the state security ministers, with the exception of Puntland and Jubbaland, which do not have relations with the Federal Government.
The officials also discussed the need for information and intelligence sharing, and for security agencies to have a unified approach to respond to security challenges in the country.
The meeting also discussed security financing, as the government seeks to build a security sector capable of operating sustainably, while reducing dependence on foreign aid.
The government said the plan is particularly important as Somalia is in a phase of gradual transition to security responsibility, with the AUSSOM mission expected to end by the end of 2026.
The Ministry of Security said the decisions and recommendations reached at the conference would be translated into actionable plans that could measure the progress of security institutions, spending, accountability and cooperation between the federal government and the state governments.
