Somalia: Federal Govt seeks Puntland support for strong army
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- Posted On 31-05-2016, 09:09PM
GAROWE, Somalia-For Somalia to move forward in military defense, UN-backed national government sent a delegation composed of members from commission for Somali National Army (SNA) Integration to the northeastern State of Puntland, Garowe Online reports.
Led by State Minister for Defence Mohamed Ali Haga, the senior defense officials held talks with Puntland Army Chief Gen. Saed Mohamed Hirsi (Saed Dhere) and toured 54th Somali army base, some kilometers off the capital, Garowe on Tuesday.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud named committee for new Somali national army integrationendeavor on May 14 in a bid to woo regional administrations as the country’s battered-military rebuilds at gradual pace.
The tete-e-tete between federal government delegation and top Puntland general centered aroundPuntland’s previous pledge of 3K soldiers set to be integrated into national army.
Central government in Mogadishu and Puntland have previously traded barbs on the composition of military. Over 22,000-strong African Union peacekeepers prop up Somali troops in the fight against Al Shabaab militants in central and southern Somalia.
GAROWEONLINE
