Sources: UAE Secretly Recruiting Foreign Mercenaries for Operations in Somalia

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is secretly recruiting thousands of foreign mercenaries to deploy in Somalia, signaling an escalation in its military involvement in the region,  sources say.

Reports suggest that a former member of the French special forces was tasked to lead the ongoing efforts to establish a new elite unit of at least 3,000 recruits for the UAE, drawing inspiration from the renowned French Foreign Legion.

According to intelligence sources in Somalia and Djibouti who spoke to Hanoolaato on condition of anonymity, the military recruits will be deployed not only in Somalia but also in Yemen.

This move reflects the UAE’s strategic objective to bolster its military capabilities and extend its influence in the region.

However, this development has raised concerns among critics, who argue that the extensive use of mercenaries undermines local sovereignty and exacerbates existing conflicts.

Moreover, there are concerns about the ethical implications of employing foreign fighters for clandestine operations, including assassinations and covert missions.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a history of deploying foreign mercenaries in many countries  particularly in conflict zones like Yemen, where reports of grave human rights abuses, assassinations and extrajudicial killings have emerged.

Since the onset of the conflict in Yemen, the UAE has been accused of employing mercenaries from various countries to carry out military operations, including airstrikes and ground offensives. However, these actions have been accompanied by disturbing accounts of human rights violations, with numerous allegations of indiscriminate bombings, torture, and unlawful detentions.

The UAE’s reliance on foreign mercenaries highlights a growing trend of outsourcing military operations to external actors, posing significant challenges to regional stability and humanitarian efforts.

Furthermore, the UAE’s use of mercenaries has complicated efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

With mercenaries often operating outside of traditional military chains of command, it becomes challenging to hold their sponsors responsible for any violations of international law.

Meanwhile, the ongoing plans for the  deployment of foreign mercenaries by the UAE in Somalia raises serious concerns about accountability and transparency in military operations conducted by non-state actors.

It also raises questions about the implications of these interventions on the fragile dynamics of the Horn of Africa.