Due to the dangers posed by Al-Shabaab, a violent extremist group operating in Somalia, Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers in Mogadishu, Somalia’s main city, carry their firearms openly while off-duty. Similarly, residents in Mogadishu are routinely murdered or robbed by armed individuals dressed in SNA uniforms. It is not uncommon for an SNA soldier to be held accountable for the deaths of civilians.
The literature review will attempt to address the questions posed by the problem statement, such as what might be causing this problem, what extremist groups are active in Mogadishu, how effective government security forces are at preventing these groups, whether or not Somali National Army (SNA) members commit crimes while in uniform, and whether or not the public views SNA as a threat to their safety.
The secondary research issues listed below will serve as the framework for the literature review:
1. What potential causes led to the current security situation in Mogadishu? What are the key historical conditions that led to this problem?
2. How effective are security forces in Mogadishu at preventing security crimes?
3. How threatening is Al-Shabaab to Mogadishu residents?
4. What elements encourage criminal activity by individuals dressed in SNA uniforms?
5. Do Mogadishu residents have trust in open-carry SNA soldiers? If not, what factors contribute to Mogadishu residents’ distrust of SNA soldiers?
