Somalia: Puntland soldiers stage mutiny ahead of CIC summit

GAROWE, Puntland - Puntland soldiers have staged a short-lived mutiny over salary arrears in the capital, Garowe on Saturday ahead of a key summit which brings together the leaders of Council of Inter-state Cooperation (CIC), Garowe Online reports.

The Mutinous soldiers blocked main streets near the state presidential palace and government offices, protesting over unpaid seven months unpaid arrears of salaries as well as poor working conditions.

Nugal Stabilization force commissioner, Gen. Muhyadin Ahmed Muse and other senior security officials intervened in the situation and convinced the state forces to return to their barracks.

In 2016, soldiers took control of the central bank in Garowe in protest at lack of payments, the latest in series of mutiny since the incumbent President, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas came to power in 2014.

Despite facing dual security challenges from Al-Shabab and the growing presence of fighters linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Puntland heads to the polls to elect new members of Parliament and President next year.

Saturday's brief mutiny comes as the leaders of Jubbaland, Southwest, Galmudug are arriving in the city for the CIC forum which is expected to dominate security and the interests of the Federal Member states in the bloc.

Last month, the regional leaders suspended cooperation with Somalia's central government in Mogadishu, accusing it of interfering with regional issues, failure to implement security architecture and not fulfilling political agreements.

Analysts say the resolutions are the latest political setback by the central government which is trying to partner with the international community to stabilize the Horn of Africa nation.

GAROWE ONLINE