Somalia: Somaliland President fires army chief and begins training for security forces 11 Feb 11, 2012 - 5:34:41 AM
HARGEYSA, Somalia Feb 11 2012 (Garowe Online) – President of Somaliland Ahmed Silanyo fired his army chief who had been in office for only 90 days as the conflict in Buhodle escalated claiming more Somaliliand troop lives, Radio Garowe reports.
President Silanyo fired General Mohamed Hassan Abdullahi on Friday, no real confirmation as to why the General was fired was given by President Silanyo. General Abdullahi told a local television station in Hargeysa that President Silanyo had stopped the Somaliland army from carrying out pre-emptive strikes in Buhodle.
President Silanyo had also fired his tactical operations commander Ibrahim Aideed Ahmed and replaced him with Abdullahi Jama. General Abdullahi was replaced by General Ismail Mohamed Osman who served under the SNM rebel movement in Siad Barre’s regime.
President Silanyo recently told reporters that anyone willing to join Somaliland security forces needed to complete training in designated camps renovated and provided by the Ministry of Interior. He also announced pay increases and bonuses for security forces including a pay bonus of 120 US dollars to the presidential palace security.
Parliament Secretary to the Treasury Ali Hassan Mohamed stated that Somaliland’s budget had surpassed $90 million and revealed that the majority of the budget was going towards security which included protecting borders.
