Deployment of military, intelligence for political missions hurting soldiers-opposition

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The opposition alliance National Salvation Forum has lashed out at outgoing president Mohamed accusing him of diverting military personnel and resources to Mogadishu and Gedo regions exposing troops to attacks.

Responding to the twin attacks on SNA forward operation bases in Awdegle and Barire Saturday, the NSF said Farmaajo had restructured military resources to further his political ambitions at the expense of the soldiers and national security.

“Footage and media reports of the terrorist attack on the army show the president’s neglect of the troops in the front line,” the NSF which brings together 15 presidential candidates, Somaliland pro-union leaders and the presidents of Jubbaland and Puntland said in a statement.

“He (Farmaajo) relocated most of the bases to Mogadishu to quell dissenting politicians. While many of the troops, weapons and other equipment for the fight against terrorism were transferred to Gedo.”

The Forum also paid tribute to the soldiers for their brave response against the attacks. The military said it killed 76 Al-Shabaab militants in the twin morning raids.

Farmaajo has also manipulated the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) to spy on politicians instead of collecting intelligence on Al-Shabaab, NSF said while calling for deploying of resources to the military and ending political interference.