Somalia urged to speed up overhaul of army forces
BRUSSELS – International donors urged Somalia to increase speed reforms of its army forces after discussing slow progress in transforming the graft-ridden force into one capable of fighting against Al Shabaab.
Somalia should work faster to address problems identified in a report last year by the government, the United Nations and the African Union (AU), donors’ statements reads during Brussels submit.
The donors also said the Somalia National Army (SNA) should build biometric registration and electronic payroll systems to curb corruption.
The African Union peacekeepers have been preparing for their departure in 2020, leaving the local military in charge of Somalia’s security, amid Somali National Army (SNA) a “fragile force with extremely weak command and control, the report said.
The AU force began drawing down last year. It does most of the fighting against Shabab insurgents who launch attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere.
United Nations ambassador to Somalia, Michael Keating says Brussels meeting had aimed at boosting support for security transition plan.
Keating said that Somali leaders, Federal Member States, AMISOM, TCCs and international partners had been recommitted.
“Politically smart implementation needed, backed by adequate resources for AMISOM, Somalia army, police, institution building and stabilization”, he said on his Twitter.
With Reporting by Abdirisak Mohamud Tuuryare from Mogadishu, Somalia
