Turkish-trained Somali troops land in Mogadishu amid pre-election standoff

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A contingent of GorGor troops landed in Mogadishu's Aden Abdulle International Airport on Monday after months of training in Turkey, just amid an ongoing pre-election stalemate, which has triggered wrangles between the opposition and the federal government.

In footage taken at the airport, the troops were seen matching and taking instructions from their commander, with most of them wearing the trademark red berets, as they chanted patriotic slogans as a sign of solidarity with the appointing authority.

Somalia, which had one of the strongest forces at independence, is now struggling to constitute a loyal formidable force that can be used in protecting her borders and fighting the Al-Shabaab militants.

Besides the GorGor troops, the country also benefits from US-trained Danab troops and those equipped by the Royal British army.

Reports indicate that the contingent which landed on Monday will serve in the 15th battalion of GorGor, who are deployed in sophisticated missions such as the liberation of various parts of the country from the Al-Shabaab militants.

Ankara is a major security stakeholder in Somalia and has traditionally trained GorGor troops as part of rebuilding Somalia. Gorgor troops and Haram'ad special police force are the most prominent units that the Turkish government has trained and equipped.

But there are fears that the outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo could use the troops to extend his rule in power instead of directing them to the fight against Al-Shabaab. Farmajo has often been accused of turning the priority of the forces upside down.

Like last year, most of the GorGor troops were linked to the fierce battles within the Gedo region of Jubaland, where they wrestled most parts from the local authority. Since then, there have been reports of clashes between Jubaland security forces and GorGor, and even contributing to the current electoral impasse.

However, sources told Garowe Online that Turkish authorities warned Farmajo against using the troops for political purposes before they returned home. The Haram'ad and Gorgor troops have for a long time been used to harass and intimidate the opposition candidates.

A report published by the Washington Post recently revealed that the Danab commander refused to authorize his battalion to engage protesters in Mogadishu. The country used security forces to scuttle a peaceful demonstration that had rocked the capital.

There are close to 1,500 soldiers serving various Danab battalions across the country and most of them received training under the US Africa Command team whose headquarters are in Djibouti. The team is also credited for the liberation of various towns from Al-Shabaab.

GAROWE ONLINE