UAE to assist Somalia in armed forces salaries
MOGADISHU, Somalia, October 18, 2015 (Garowe Online)-United Arab Emirates pledged lavish support in security sector amid reports of lack of support services and pays for Somali National Army (SNA), Garowe Online reports.
UAE envoy to Somalia, Ambassador Mohammed Ahmed Othman Al Hammadi and Somalia Finance Minister Mohamed Adan Farageti agreed on a new framework that would help Mogadishu-based federal government pay salaries of armed forces on Saturday.
Farageti stressed the need for major source of funding-in part by wealthy UAE- if Somalia is to fend off terrorism.
In what appeared as morale boosting remarks, he indicated that Somali Federal Government is responsible for regular payment of national army troops from now on.
New report has raised concerns over the credibility of security apparatuses due to delayed pays and long overdue salaries.
On October 10, former Chief of Defence denied that UN-backed national government failed to pay its soldiers.
UAE emerged important partner, refurbishing military bases and injecting financial aid into the country’s maturing institutions.
GAROWE ONLINE