“The Somaliland Army is the backbone of the nation. They will be in charge of security during parliamentary and local government elections. Our unique selling political point is security. I call on Somaliland Army mutineers to return to their bases, and urge Somaliland President to appoint an independent committee to look into grievances of mutinied soldiers” said Barkhad.
Somaliland Army soldiers in different sectors have reportedly mutinied after the government allegedly failed to respond to calls for pay raises and medical care abroad for soldiers who have fallen ill.
The Waddani spokesman urged Somaliland journalists not “to treat the mutiny as a political issue”.
“Waddani’s political programme includes a plan to further develop capabilities of our army” Barkhad added.
Some mutineers, who spoke to the Puntland Post anonymously, said that organisationally the appointment of Somaliland Army commanders “is skewed to President Muse Bihi Abdi’s subclan”. “There is no merit-based promotion in Somaliland Army” said a mutineer at the Tukaraq Base in Sool.
The Army mutiny might lead to postponement of Somaliland parliamentary and local government elections.
This article first appeared in the © Puntland Post, 2021 and is republished with permission