Puntland President Gripes that Tribal Militia is Out of Control and Taking Order from Adversaries

[Deeq A.]

 

The president of Somalia’s province of Puntland Mr.Abdiweli Mohammed Ali
Gaas has lamented about the existence of a tribal militia that has refused
to take orders from him. The militia the president of Puntland is
complaining about recently joined the Puntland militia that waged a war
against Somaliland government forces based at Tukaraq.

According to reliable sources close to the realms of power, confirmed that
a cabinet meeting was held on Thursday this week. In the meeting the
president of Puntland addressed his ministers confirming the presence of a
tribal militia that had converged in Qardho, in Karkaar region of the
country. The president said that the tribal militia do not take orders from
his government and have been mobilized by some people with political
interest in mind, and opposed to his administration. He went further to
reveal that the aforementioned militia have not communicated with Puntland
commanders on the ground and have joined another mercenary force en route
to attack Somaliland armed forces based in Tukaraq hamlet.

Provincial Puntland leader said that the mentioned militia had a political
agenda that he did reveal however he stated that they want to ruin the war
he waged against the Republic of Somaliland.

Meanwhile the minister of livestock and animal husbandry Mr.Abdillahi
Sheikh Ahmed addressing the Puntland Press stated that the militias were
answering the call of help from the Puntland administration which was
asking for foot soldiers.

President Gaas said that the tribal militia is a threat to Puntland
internal security because they take orders from elsewhere. He asked the
minister of livestock to make sure that the militia joins the government
command, since they have formed their own command and bases parallel to the
government of province of Puntland. Mr.Gaas added that the militia takes
order from some politicians he did not name, but the media confirmed that
they are the same people who will run for the presidency come
electioneering time. He added that if the current militia is not
disbanded other will imitate and form more tribal militias in the region
hence the province becoming a militia’s playground.

According to information circulating in the Puntland press confirm that
Mr.Gaas is worried that the tribal outfit from Qardho may be used to fight
a political war against his administration, since he wants cling to power
by extending his tenure which is opposed by some politicians from Garowe
who have put their foot soldiers at a place on a hill overlooking Garowe
town.

Puntland politicians accuse Mr.Abdiweli Gaas for lacking a political agenda
for the nation concerning the Tukaraq war since he does not want the war to
end a war that has cost many lives.

The Qardho militia whose is number estimated to be more than 200 have
armored mounted vehicles and when they went to join the Puntland militia
they did not mix but made their own barracks and command centre