Somalia: Puntland commander compares brutal anti-protest soldiers to militants

GAROWE, Somalia-Puntland Commandos Commander Col. Jimale Jama Takar has compared security forces breaking up protests by force to ‘Al Shabaab militants’ in harsh remarks over reports of torture on Saturday, Garowe Online reports. 

“Day and night, we stand for the people, and we don’t allow any harm on them. People are exercising their democratic rights to protest, so they should not be tortured and arrested,” said the security commander. 

He warned soldiers and their commanders in charge of future intimidations. 

“If they don’t abandon this, then we will consider them as Al Shabaab, and feel obliged to confront them,” Takar added. 

Police dispersed hundreds of protesters complaining about souring prices of commodities in Bossaso and Garowe over the weekend.

GAROWEONLINE