Bosaso City Pays the Price of Securitization: The Aftermath of US Withdrawal from Sponsoring PSF

by: Horn Observer Contributor | 07 June 2024 03:35

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Bosaso City Pays the Price of Securitization: The Aftermath of US Withdrawal from Sponsoring PSF

BY- AHMED MOHAMMED -

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PSF is a counter-terror unit initially funded and trained by CIA.

BY- AHMED MOHAMMED -

Over the past several decades, Puntland State of Somalia has experienced significant foreign intervention, notably from the United States, aimed at stabilizing the region and combating terrorism.

However, this involvement has also resulted in violent destabilization, dysfunctional governance, and widespread uncertainty. Civilian communities have been left destitute as foreign actors tighten their security cordons, leading to increasing outflows of people seeking safety.

Most recently, a dramatic incident has underscored the chaotic situation in Bosaso, a city that has borne the brunt of these interventions. Units from the Puntland Security Forces (PSF)—formerly trained and equipped by the US to combat terrorism—diverted from their intended purpose and forcibly entered the Central Police Station of Bosaso. They extracted two detainees who were awaiting trial on charges of criminal activities, including arms smuggling and attacking police patrols.

This event epitomizes the hallmarks of anarchism that Bosaso has come to symbolize. The city’s residents have suffered recurrent armed confrontations among disparate security outfits that operate independently and with impunity. This environment of constant sabotage has led to a fluid and unpredictable security situation that undermines the welfare of the population.

The ordeals inflicted upon Bosaso have sparked civil unrest and inequities, enabling violent and brutal repression. The general public has witnessed numerous atrocities committed under the guise of securitization, actions aimed more at dampening the people’s resolve and aspirations than at providing genuine security. Rather than focusing on civilian safety, these security apparatuses often compete with each other, causing further mayhem within the state's already grey areas of governance.

The situation in Bosaso is appalling and calls for immediate action. Those responsible for such malicious actions must be held accountable and brought to justice to ensure the welfare of all citizens in Bosaso and the wider region.

The withdrawal of US sponsorship for the PSF has further complicated the security landscape. The forces, once a counter-terrorism unit, are now under the de facto control of local families who use them for personal protection and profiteering.

These forces have been implicated in activities such as weapons smuggling and retaliatory attacks against the police. The recent attack on the central police station follows an incident where Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) units intercepted an illegal weapons delivery near Bosaso.

The assailants, formerly part of the US-supported PSF, are now embroiled in criminal activities and power struggles, exacerbating the region’s instability.

The residents of Bosaso and surrounding areas continue to pay the price for the securitization efforts and the subsequent abandonment by foreign sponsors. Their lives remain relentlessly damaged and threatened by the very entities that claim to protect them. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive approach to restore order and address the root causes of this protracted crisis. Only then can the people of Bosaso hope for a future free from the upheaval that has marred their lives for so long.