Somalia starts inquest into intra-army clashes
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Staff Reporter Garowe Online
- Posted On 05-11-2023, 09:03AM
MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Federal Government of Somalia has kicked off an inquest into intra-army clashes in Jowhar, the regional administrative capital of HirShabelle state, a huge setback to the ongoing crackdown against Al-Shabaab militants, who still control large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia.
On Saturday, clashes broke out between the Danab Special Forces, a contingent of the Somali National Army [SNA], and the HirShabelle regional forces within Jowhar, the capital. The two groups clashed between the airports of the state, leading to panic among government agencies.
According to Abdihakim Luqman, the speaker of the HirShabelle regional assembly, Danab Special Forces allegedly attacked a convoy that was escorting him to the airport, leading to heavy gunfight exchanges involving the army and the regional forces.
The clashes, he adds, left one officer dead and several others critically injured. The speaker was being escorted by HirShabelle presidential guards at the time of the incident and it is not clear which triggered the Danab Special Forces to open fire.
Abdikadir Mohamed Nur, the Minister of Defence, says an inquest has been opened to establish the motive of the clashes, which expose huge cracks within the government. However, the minister did not state how long it would take to have the report.
In Somalia, due to a lack of proper security arrangements and coordination, security forces often embroil themselves in fights, leading to deaths and serious injuries. The government is set to come up with a centralized command for security teams to avoid miscommunication.
The troops are being mobilized to help in the fight against Al-Shabaab, a group that has caused chaos across the country for the last 16 years. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been rallying for cohesion and commitment among security teams in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
GAROWE ONLINE
