Somalia: Puntland leader weighs firing Army Chief

GALKAYO, Somalia, October 3, 2015 (Garowe Online)-The President of Somalia’s Puntland Government, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali is planning to sack Gen. Saed Mohamed Hirsi (Saed Dhere) from the top military job, Garowe Online has learned.

Ali postponed the firing decree, waiting for his return from visit to Nairobi on Saturday, Presidency sources said.

Prospective successors have been inundating Puntland President’s office in Galkayo with requests.

Gen. Saed Dhere said, he will resign unless salaries are paid to disgruntled security forces in an interview with private station, Daljir Radio.

Ali denied that Puntland troops have not been paid over the last months.

Puntland Defence Forces (PDFs) soldiers stationed in 54^th Somali Army Base in the capital, Garowe, and paramilitary units in Bossaso, and Galkayo have gone on strikes for missing pays.

Gen. Saed Dhere has been spearheading military offensives against Al Shabaab militants in Galgala and terrorist hotbeds along Golis Mountain Ranges since mid-2010.

GAROWE ONLINE