Subtitle: A Field Research Report by the Somali Arts, Advocacy and Reform Organization (SAARO)
Report Code: SRU-03-2025
Date: 0ctober 1-2025
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report presents SAARO’s field investigation into the systematic weaponization of women and girls in Somalia. Our research establishes that violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a deliberate, strategic instrument employed by Al-Shabaab and criminal networks. We identify three core functions: as a revenue engine, a mechanism for social control, and a logistical resource. While maintaining the legal distinction between trafficking and smuggling, this report demonstrates how the latter often devolves into the former, creating a hybrid exploitation model. Our findings demand an immediate, multi-sectoral response.
- INTRODUCTION: THE STRATEGIC CALCULUS OF VIOLENCE
SAARO researchers have documented the calculated integration of gender-based violence into the operational frameworks of armed groups. Through verified case studies and testimony, we demonstrate that the bodies of Somali women and girls have become a primary battlefield.
- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: GROUND TRUTH DOCUMENTATION
SAARO employed a multi-layered approach:
- Field Intelligence Collection (32 key informants)
- Survivor-Centered Documentation (15 survivors, following WHO guidelines)
- Case Study Analysis (27 verified cases)
- Policy Gap Analysis
All research adhered to strict ethical protocols for participant safety.
- FINDINGS: THE ARCHITECTURE OF WEAPONIZATION
Our investigation reveals three interconnected pillars.
- 1. Pillar 1: The Revenue Engine – VAWG as Criminal Capital
- The Franchised Trafficking Model:A highly organized, franchise-like structure for trafficking women to Gulf states. A network defector stated: “The product is human hope.”
- Taxation of Exploitation:Al-Shabaab systematically taxes trafficking routes, contributing an estimated $2-5 million annually to its budget.
- 2. Pillar 2: The Control Mechanism – VAWG as Instrument of Terror
- Systematic Intimidation:Rape is used to punish communities for alleged collaboration with government forces.
- Gendered Extortion:The “zakat” system frequently includes sexual demands as payment for “tax arrears.”
- 3. Pillar 3: The Logistical Resource – VAWG as Operational Support
- Forced Marriage Systems:Our research, based on cross-referenced testimony, estimates approximately 68% of mid-level Al-Shabaab commanders have been “awarded” forced wives.
- Brothel-Based Infrastructure:Brothels along smuggling routes generate revenue and provide “rest facilities” for fighters and smugglers.
- DISCUSSION: THE FAILURE OF CONVENTIONAL RESPONSES
The interconnected nature of these pillars creates a self-sustaining ecosystem. Security, humanitarian, and legal approaches that fail to target the entire system achieve only temporary disruption.
- SAARO’S STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS
- 1. Establish a Financial Intelligence and Analysis Cell (FIAC):Create a cell, housed within the UN Country Team and Somali Financial Reporting Centre, to integrate GBV analysis into security ops and target financial flows from exploitation.
- 2. Strengthen Justice and Accountability Mechanisms:Develop specialized judicial processes, potentially a dedicated Specialized Court for Organized Crime and Terrorism with a witness unit.
- 3. Prioritize Support for Women-Led Civil Society:Provide sustained, flexible funding to frontline women’s organizations.
- 4. Implement Community Vigilance Networks:Support community-based monitoring systems using secure, low-tech mobile platforms for anonymous reporting.
- CONCLUSION
The weaponization of women and girls is a central component of the conflict ecosystem. The time for integrated, intelligence-driven action is now.
