Somalia: Traitors in army responsible for Al-Shabaab base attack - speaker

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Lower House Speaker Sheikh Adan Madobe has suggested that some elements within the military and civil service could be responsible for Al-Shabaab attacks across the country, adding that infiltration within the government should be investigated conclusively.

In his address, Sheikh Nur condemned Monday's deadly attack targeting a military base in Mogadishu which left at least 25 members of the Somali National Army [SNA] dead. At least 70 others were critically injured in the attack which the speaker termed as "cowardly and unreligious".

He insists that traitors are solely responsible while hailing military officers who have exuded patriotism throughout their line of duty. The Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility, arguing that over 70 officers were killed in the 14th October army training center.

“I know among the officers there are good, hard-working, dignified people but that traitors have facilitated this. I suspect that a lot. It’s intolerable,” he said in a video posted by state media.

The bomber detonated a suicide vest as the soldiers lined up after breakfast. The soldiers had been recently deployed to Mogadishu for additional training and re-equipping, officials confirmed as reported by the Voice of America.

The speaker, who is currently the acting president due to the absence of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and PM Hamza Abdi Barre, asked authorities to expedite investigations and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted. Three people among them an SNA Colonel have been arrested in connection to the attack.

“I order the officers and all the security personnel in charge of the security, who are honest, to rigorously investigate this,” he said.

“The criminals who are hiding among the army who are facilitating for the enemy must be apprehended and brought before justice. … I want a satisfactory answer,” Nur said.

The attack has left many soldiers exposed due to the fact that the base is highly fortified. Infiltration in government has been a perennial problem in the federal republic of Somalia, with some government operatives giving Al-Shabaab intelligence just ahead of attacks.

GAROWE ONLINE