Hiiraan Online
Monday November 2, 2015
Nicholos Key
MOGADISHU (HOL) ---In the wake of the deadly complex
attack on a Mogadishu hotel Sunday, the United Nations envoy to Somalia has
called for more support to the Somali army which is struggling to contain the
deadly guerilla war by the stubborn Al-Qaeda linked group with the help of the
African Union force.
As the siege on the Sahafi hotel prolonged, Somali forces
have ended stalemate, killing all attackers who were holed up in compound where
they killed at least 15 people including a Somali legislator, former general
and the owner of the hotel.
“Bloody attack in Mogadishu underlines the need to help
Somali security forces & government counter-terrorism.” Nicholas Kay said
in a Twitter post Sunday.
As the horn of Africa nation is recovering from decades
of war, security challenges remain, with the Al-Qaeda linked militant group
continues to carry out deadly attacks against the government and the African
Union force.
Having deployed in Somalia in 2007, the outsourced
African Union force has since been trying to oust Alshabab fighters from the
areas still under their control, an attempt which despite relative success seems
to be proving hard for the 21000-strong force.
Besides that, the large remuneration earned by the
foreign forces has been a matter of controversy in Somalia, with many likened
their welfare to that of the irregularly-paid Somali soldiers who sometimes go
for months without their basic salaries.
“The disproportion of the two troops’ compensation is the
main factor absorbing our army’s morale.” said Ahmed Hassan, a former Somali
military general in Mogadishu.
“You can’t maintain security with hungry and unpaid
soldiers services.” He said.
In addition, Somali army also faces logistical problems,
a key challenge which at times forces the troops to seek help from the better-equipped
AU peacekeepers, who often share personal rations and fuel with Somali soldiers
with whom they fight side-by-side.
Elsewhere, a new report by the United Nations Monitoring
group has alleged that Conflict of interest within the Somali army’s hierarchy and
business ties between those responsible for ensuring the national army is
provisioned, and the company providing its dry food rations — amounting to
upwards of $8 million each year —hamper efforts to rebuild the army.
The lengthy report has also noted that impunity and
misappropriation within the army has dented donor confidence in the Federal
Government of Somalia, which it said has acknowledged the gravity of the
situation.