Somaliland Opposition Party Urges Mutineers to Return to Barracks

[Deeq A.]

Hargeisa (PP News Desk) — Barkhad Jama Batun, Spokesman for Waddani, an opposition party, has called on Somaliland Army mutineers to return to barracks.

“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.

Barkhad Batun called on Somaliland Army mutineers to return to barracks.

Somaliland Army soldiers at different sectors have mutinied after the government allegedly failed to respond to calls for pay raise and medical care abroad for soldiers who have fallen ill. 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 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 Tukaraq base in Sool.

Army mutiny might lead to postponement of Somaliland parliamentary and local government elections.

© Puntland Post, 2021

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