Somali army assume responsibility of UAE training academy in Mogadishu

Somali army said Saturday it has taken charge of the military units under UAE training following earlier announcement by the Defense ministry it was on course to assuming full responsibility.

Chief of Defense Staff Abdullahi Ali Anod told journalists Saturday all the UAE trained forces are now under the umbrella of the national army.

“As of today, we have assumed responsibility of  forces who had been trained by UAE,” said General Anod. “We have also received military vehicles, trucks and ambulances,” the army chief during the hand-over event at General Gorod Training centre.

The handover follows UAE’s announcement last week it was ending military training and payment of salaries to over 2407 soldiers in Mogadishu. This move came after authorities in Somalia seized $9.6 million in Aden Adde airport in Mogadishu which the government has since said it will return to the Gulf nation.

Defense Minister Mohamed Mursal said early this month the government was readying to take full responsibility of the soldiers including payment of their salaries.

Military sources who spoke to Goobjoog News last week on condition of anonymity said the soldiers who were grouped into three divisions received monthly salaries ranging from $280 to $980.