A former child soldier has described the brutal choice forced upon him by al-Shabaab militants in Somalia: kill or be killed. His testimony comes as the UK government pushes for a radical security sector reform in the war-torn country.
The man, now in his twenties, was abducted at age 12 from his village near Mogadishu. For three years, he was trained to use assault rifles and plant roadside bombs. ‘You either kill or they kill you,’ he told me. ‘There is no escape.’
His story is not unique. Thousands of children have been conscripted by al-Shabaab. Those who refuse are often executed in front of their peers. The group uses fear as its primary weapon.
The timing of this revelation is critical. Behind the scenes, Whitehall officials are lobbying for a complete overhaul of Somalia’s security apparatus. The current model, funded by foreign aid, is widely seen as corrupt and ineffective. Sources tell me the UK is quietly pushing for a leaner, more accountable force – one that can actually hold territory against al-Shabaab.
The Foreign Office insists it is ‘committed to supporting Somali-led security reform’. But the whispers in Westminster suggest deeper frustration. One defence source described the current Somali army as ‘a payroll for warlords’. The UK has spent hundreds of millions on training and equipment, but results are patchy at best.
The ex-child soldier, now a refugee in Britain, says the real solution is political. ‘The government must win hearts and minds,’ he argues. ‘Without trust, the people will always fear al-Shabaab more than the army.’
Downing Street is aware of the stakes. A failed state in the Horn of Africa is a breeding ground for extremism. The UK’s own terror threat is linked to Somalia – several British jihadists have trained in the region.
So expect a sharper edge to UK diplomacy. The Foreign Secretary is set to raise the issue at the UN next month. Behind closed doors, the message will be blunt: no more blank cheques. Reform or lose the funding.
The ex-soldier hopes this time is different. ‘I used to dream of a normal life,’ he says. ‘Now I just dream of safety for those still trapped.’ For him, the nightmares are over. For thousands of Somali children, they are just beginning.
