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# 									Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs: Somalia Summary							

Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) works to keep Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores.

**Challenges:******The al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab remainsthe largest threat to Somalia’s internal stability as well as regional security. An ISIS-affiliated groupalso has a limited presence in northern Somalia. In addition to these terrorist groups, local-level conflicts and challenges to effective governance affect Somali citizens every day. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), in partnership with Somali security forces, has liberated areas of southern Somalia from al-Shabaab and helps support stabilization efforts through south central Somalia. Somali security forces – including the police and military – will require significant assistance and capacity building at all levels to consistently and effectively prevent and respond to terrorist incidents and other crimes, and to provide long-term stability and security.

**Goals:******Since 2013, INL has committed approximately $50 million in bilateral and regional assistance to Somalia. INL’s current efforts focus on building the capacity of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Somali Police Force (SPF), addressing the gaps in the investigation and prosecution process, working to improve the skills of Somalia’s legal community, and supporting reforms in Somalia’s correctional sector.

INL’s contribution to police and judicial reform enhances security both in Somalia and across the region.An effective police presence is necessary for stability, especially in areas cleared of al-Shabaab, and INL’s support to investigators to prevent and respond to serious crimes is critical for stabilization and recovery efforts. INL focuses on building the technical capacity of the CID and investigators at the Federal Member State level to investigate complex crimes and effectively prepare and refer cases for prosecution. INL is also working in partnership with the Attorney General’s Office and Custodial Corps to synchronize efforts to prevent violent extremism in prisons, and support justice sector actors to coordinate more effectively with the CID to successfully prevent, respond to, and prosecute serious crimes.

**Accomplishments:******
        - INL-trained CID officers better employ investigative capabilities, maximize the value of assets and equipment, and coordinate with  Somali Government security forces and judicial actors.  D ue to  increased capacity  over the past four years ,  INL – trained and mentored investigators responded to over 1 , 200 incidents  ranging from homicide, rape, terrorism, and assault .  
        - Mentored CID officers and forensic lab staff supported the investigation and convictions of several high-profile attacks, including the October 14, 2017 bombing in Mogadishu that killed over 500 people.  INL  forensic s upport  helped sucre the f irst  e xoneration  u sing DNA  e vidence  in September 2020. 
        - Coordination between the CID and Attorney General’s Office has improved as  p rosecutors now participate in, and conduct training for, the CID on relevant Somali laws and the admission of evidence .  
        - INL  also  p rovide d  technical assistance in the development and adoption of a National Anti-Corruption Strategy . This strategy was approved in June 2020 and endorsed by the  Somali  cabinet. It  i s a   critical step  towards good governance, integrity enhancement ,  and accelerating  efforts to address  corruption . 

 

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