Somaliland soldiers’ defection to Puntland: Army Chief reacts

Hargeisa, Aug 25 (Somaliland.com) – The Somaliland National Army has commented for the first time on the defection of dozens of its members in Badhan district of  Eastern Sanaag to the Puntland State of Somalia.

The chief of Somaliland National Army said insurgent Colonel Aarre should be executed.

The chief of the Somaliland National Forces Major General Nuh Tani addressed the mass defection of Somaliland soldiers in Badhan District in the eastern Sanaag Region.

He said he was happy about the defection of the contingent of the Somaliland National Army in Badhan, adding that the contingent had not been operational as that they had in the past refused to conduct operations.

‘If they cannot perform their duties, they should neither be paid nor allowed to remain in the army. We have been lenient with them for a long time. The nation does not need those who left as many others that are remaining. It is good that they have left. And we are happy about it because they add nothing to the country except costs.’ The army chief said the contingent was merely a financial burden on the nation and that the country does not need people who siphon funds without providing services in return.

Major General Nuh Tani also threatened other dormant service members with dismissal: ‘I thank those who left.  And for the others who have no significant input, it will be beneficial for everyone if they left. A person who has not done much should not receive taxpayer’s money.’

The army chief’s remarks follows the recent defection of the commander of the Somaliland forces in Badhan district with the whole contingent. Overall, around a thousand soldiers and a handful of officials and officers in Badhan district of Sanaag region defected from Somaliland to Puntland within the last three months.

The chief of the Somaliland army called for the execution of the disgruntled Colonel Aarre who defected from the army last year. Major General Nuh Tani accused Colonel Saed Awil Jama also known as Colonel Aarre of murdering about ten people.

The army chief said that Colonel Aarre had formerly been arrested for murdering four people, but was later, released and appointed commander due to lobbying by elders.

Major General Nuhu Tani stressed that Aarre is a criminal and needs to be brought before the court of justice for prosecution.

Lately, mediators consisting of traditional leaders have been trying to attain a peaceful resolution between Colonel Aarre and Somaliland government who have clashed several times near Erigavo, the capital of Sanag region.

On Eid-ul-Azha day, Sultan Adde Gude, a member of the intermediary elders, announced that Colonel Aarre had accepted a deal to end his insurgency peacefully. The traditional leader added that the ball was in the court of President Muse Bihi, who was then in Saudi Arabia performing the Hajj Pilgrimage.

It is not certain whether the statement of the army chief is the government’s official response to the proposed peaceful settlement brokered by the elders.