Somalia: Hundreds of Somali police officers have gone missing and are believed to have either defected to militant groups or abandoned their posts after thousands were recently sent to the frontlines to combat Al-Shabaab’s advance toward the capital. The network accessed internal police documents that name 145 missing officers by rank, but other estimates suggest the figure could rise to 600.
These officers did not have approved leave, yet officials have not indicated whether they disappeared during combat assignments or chose to flee urban areas to avoid frontline service. Security analysts are concerned that the missing personnel may have either joined Al-Shabaab or unlawfully sold their weapons—an ongoing issue within Somalia’s struggling security forces over the last decade.
- Lord, we pray for the police officers in Somalia to recognize their important role in maintaining peace and safety in the community and not to defect to the militant group (The Holy Bible, Proverbs 21:15).
- Lord, we ask for Your wisdom and guidance to help them make sound decisions and handle difficult situations like this (The Holy Bible, Psalms 140:4).
News Source: Somali Guardian
Image Source: Canva
