Photo/Somali Times
Somalia’s Ministry of Defense has denied reports that Amisom troops are monitoring the activities of Somali government forces amid political tensions that threaten the co-operation of Amisom and Somali government forces.
Somali Deputy Minister of Defense Abdi Fatah Qasim described decision as shameful as it is not part Amisom’s mandate, adding that the government will not accept governments that do not want Somali forces to make great progress.
“Amisom’s job is to protect government buildings, social affairs and counter-terrorism,” the Somali deputy defense minister said at an event in Mogadishu.
The statement from the deputy defense minister appears to be the beginning of a new rift between the federal government and the African Union and the federal government set to issue a statement on the AU’s decision.
Thursday night, the African Union issued a statement urging Amisom, while renewing mandate, to monitor the activities of the Somali Security Forces.
Somalis whenever they are whether in home or abroad they should ask themselves: ‘Are they in colony or independent?” said the deputy minister. He added saying all this international community and African Union are only interested in controlling Somalia’s resources.