Publication

This brief examines the strained relationship between the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somali National Army (SNA). The sources of the friction include 1) the clan structure of Somali politics, which spills over into the military, and 2) the Somali government's limited faith in AMISOM’s ability to defeat al-Shabaad. To help improve the situation, AMISOM should co-locate its headquarters with the SNA's, and ensure that contributing countries train and equip the Somali force in more coherent ways.