Somalia: FGS withdraws troops from Dhusamareb ahead of FMS leaders' meeting

DHUSAMAREB, Galmudug - Hundreds of troops attached to elite Haram'ad contingent of police offers were on Wednesday withdrawn from Dhusamareb, the capital of Galmadug, ahead of Thursday's meeting which will bring together all the federal member states leaders in Somalia.

The pull out of the forces comes amid claims that some FMS leaders had demanded for withdrawal of the Government police, terming their presence in "unnecessary", but the allegations could not be substantiated given that none of them admitted of having called for their removal from the town.

Multiple sources hinted to the Garowe Online that the plans by the Federal Goverment of Somalia to withdraw the elite police officers from the city started long ago, even before the claims that some regional leaders had requested for their withdrawal due to persistent political  conflictbetween FGS and FMS.

Galmadug, Puntland, Southwest, HirShabelle and Jubaland leaders will meet for the first time in more than a year on Thursday amid growing calls for a constructive dialogue between FGS and FMS, following debacles about the planned elections and persistent claims of sabotage from both parties.

A plane dispatched from Mogadishu carried the police officers back to the capital city, and there will now be deployed to other parts of the country where they will enforce law and order. Their exact number is still not yet known but they were picked in two batches.

By Wednesday evening, Galmadug leader Ahmed Kariye alias Qoor Qoor had started receiving guests and HirShabelle leader Mohamed Abdi Waare was among the first to arrive in Dhusamareb. He was taken to presidential palace where he's expected to spend a night.

The Haram'ad police officers are trained by Turkish military trainers in Mogadishu and are dispatched across the war-torn nation to enforce law and order. Besides the police officers, Ankara also trains Gorgor security troops from Somali National Army [SNA].

In February this year, the FGS deployed Haram'ad and Gorgor to Dhusamareb during the presidential elections which were boycotted by lead contenders over claims of manipulation by the federal government. Ahmed Kariye alias Qoor Qoor was elected the president of the state.

But few months later, the troops clashed with the ASWJ militia in Dhusamareb, leading to unprecedented death of over 20 people. The incident buoyed calls to have the troops withdrawn from the region, but the FGS has maintained that they have powers to enforce law and order.

Thursday's meeting will be hosted by Kariye, who is perceived to be leaning towards FGS and would among others, discuss the controversial electoral law proposal, representation for Banadir and Somaliland in Senate and fulfillment of the 30 percent quota for women representation.

Also, the team would discuss matters related to combating Al-Shabaab across Somalia. The militants have been wreaking havoc for the last 12 years and are dominant in sections of Jubaland, Southwest and HirShabelle, within the southern and central Somalia.

Worryingly, the federal government of Somalia which was supposed to convene the meeting has gone mum, further throwing the future of the country into the sea of uncertainty. President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo had agreed to host the meeting last Sunday but it was postponed after the states accused Lower House of approving certain legislations without consultations.

Forum for National Parties, which is the main opposition in Somalia, accused the federal government of having a "bad attitude" adding that the decision to abort an earlier meeting which had been convened in Mogadishu, was done in "bad faith" and against efforts to unite the country.

The Haram'ad forces had also previously accused of meddling in the country's internal politics, invading peaceful regions, including Gedo, a claim which the federal government has persistently refuted.

Turkey which has its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu is a key financier of Somalia and has been training security forces ahead of AMISOM exit in 2021.

GAROWE ONLINE