Spotlight on Somalia- A reiteration of Afghanistan in Africa post foreign troop withdrawal?

The Taliban crisis has triggered considerable introspection in the countries where the central government is seeking financial and security assistance from foreign governments to fight against extremist groups in the country.

Since invading Afghanistan in 2001, the US has spent $2.313 trillion on its war and nation-building projects. The costs of war also include the lives of 243000 people who died during combat. Despite the efforts and treasure, the west poured into rebuilding Afghanistan’s economy and institutions, people have been struggling to leave the country following the swift take over by the Taliban. This brings us to an important question- What was the return on investment? If not much, the Taliban inherits a better place to live, a well-trained army, and improved infrastructure from what they left two decades back. However, it is clear that the investment was not worth it, or the timing of withdrawal was not well thought or lacked strategy.

It is essential to learn from Afghanistan’s fate, especially for those engaged with countries fighting against extremists group in those countries.

A similar nation-building exercise is carried out in Somalia by the African Union Mission to Somalia(AMISOM). Troops are deployed to prop up its incompetent government to battle the insurgence of the al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, al-Shabab. Another objective is to aid the country in rebuilding its institutions and infrastructure.

During the time of the Trump administration, He repositioned its forces out of Somalia, a decision Biden is not likely to reverse. The EU has further held onto the budgetary support due to prolonged elections. 

Despite the years-long efforts and almost $900 million investment annually, the government in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, has little legitimacy in the country. The extremist groups still exist in the rural areas and on the peripheries and carry out devastating attacks at their will. Like Afghanistan, Somalia has seen growth in the last couple of decades because of foreign intervention, but it is limited to urban areas and fuelled mainly by foreign aid. Not many are motivated to start their private business because of lack of support, infrastructure, corruption, and political instability in the country. Employment is concentrated in some low-income sectors, say agriculture.

History is the evidence that sending troops, providing military support and aiding a country is not enough. The countries need economic partnerships, jobs and legitimate government for real growth.

The true lesson from the Afghan crises is that countries supporting other countries and those on receiving end need to be careful of where they are putting efforts and the long-term effects of their actions.