MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s embattled military faces a spiraling crisis as soaring desertion rates prompt harsh rebukes from government officials and religious scholars, who have labeled fleeing soldiers “infidels” and threatened reprisals against their families.
The backlash follows a series of battlefield setbacks against Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-linked insurgency that has intensified its offensive in regions near the capital. In a fiery declaration this week, senior government cleric Sheikh Ali Wajis denounced soldiers who abandon posts after militant attacks, branding them apostates and calling for punitive measures—including arrest, salary cuts, and dismissal.
His remarks were echoed by Custodial Corps commander Mahad Abdirahman Mohamed, who vowed that deserters and their entire families—”mother and father included”—would face arrest or execution.
The threats underscore deepening desperation within Somalia’s security apparatus as Al-Shabaab exploits faltering morale to reclaim territory. Analysts warn that the military’s eroding resolve could prove disastrous.
“High troop desertion rates and ‘refusal to fight’ are usually fatal warning signs and bad news for any army in combat,” said Rashid Abdi of Sahan Research. “For an army battling a deadly and entrenched insurgency, ‘a crisis of diminishing will to fight’ is potentially catastrophic.”
Security expert Samira Gaid condemned the officials’ rhetoric as counterproductive, arguing that vilifying troops only accelerates demoralization.
“Wars are ultimately won or lost by men—not machines,” Gaid said. “Yet, the persistent tendency to blame frontline soldiers for battlefield losses echoes the rhetoric of Somali political leadership. These disparaging remarks are heard by the very forces they expect to sacrifice their lives selflessly.”
She added that such statements “not only continue to erode morale but also allow political leaders to deflect responsibility for their own very real role in undermining the motivation and effectiveness of the SNSF [Somali National Security Forces].”
With Al-Shabaab advancing and discipline unraveling, Somalia’s military faces a perilous inflection point—one that threats and vilification may only exacerbate.
Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com
