By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
MOGADISHU (Dawan) – September 5, 2026 – The Federal Government of Somalia has launched a National Policy on the Protection of Civilians During Military Operations and Armed Conflicts, aimed at guiding security institutions in reducing civilian harm during military operations.
Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi launched the policy on Saturday at a ceremony attended by federal government officials, representatives from federal member states, diplomats and stakeholders involved in implementing the framework.
Fiqi said protecting civilians is a national and constitutional responsibility of the government, adding that safeguarding communities is essential to building a professional national army based on discipline, accountability and respect for civilian protection principles.
The launch comes days after farmers from Lower Shabelle Region raised concerns over challenges they said were caused by Al-Shabaab and the impact of recent security operations in their areas.
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On August 29, Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir Maareeye, State Minister for Defence Omar Ali Abdi and Land Forces Commander Brigadier General Sahal Abdullahi Omar met with representatives of farmers from Lower Shabelle.
During the meeting, the farmers presented complaints about damage they said occurred during recent military operations, as well as difficulties caused by Al-Shabaab in their communities. The officials pledged to document the concerns and refer them to relevant institutions for review, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The new policy is expected to establish procedures for protecting civilians, reducing risks during military operations and safeguarding civilian property and livelihoods in conflict-affected areas.
The government said the framework represents a step toward strengthening accountability and civilian protection efforts, although details on implementation mechanisms, oversight responsibilities and procedures for addressing reported cases of civilian harm have not yet been announced.