Somalia Pledges Pay Parity for South West Darawish, National Army

By Asha Elmi - Reporter

Somalia, 13 April 2026 The Federal Government of Somalia has pledged to align the salaries and benefits of the South West State’s Darawish forces with those of the Somali National Army, according to state media.

The announcement followed high-level security meetings involving senior officials, including the Director of the National Intelligence and Security Agency, Mahad Mohamed Salad, and the Police Commissioner, Asad Osman Abdullahi, alongside federal and South West State representatives.

Discussions reportedly focused on addressing grievances related to the administration and operations of Darawish forces stationed in Awdiinle, a strategic area in the Southwest State.

Officials said the talks are part of broader efforts to strengthen coordination between federal and regional security forces and improve overall stability.

Security leaders urged the Darawish units to continue their duties, assuring them that the federal government is working toward standardizing their rights with those of the national army.

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Darawish commanders welcomed the agreement, expressing appreciation for efforts to resolve longstanding concerns and reaffirming their commitment to security operations.

The forces were later redeployed to Baidoa and their previous bases.

Regional security forces in Somalia are typically funded by their respective federal member states.

The development comes amid shifting political and security dynamics in South West State, particularly in Baidoa, where federal authorities have recently increased their role in local security and leadership arrangements.