​Somali: Government forces seize Defense Ministry HQ over unpaid salaries

MOGADISHU, Somalia- Somali government forces have staged mutiny and seized the Defense Ministry headquarters in the capital Mogadishu on Thursday Morning, Garowe Online reports.

Dozens of soldiers in battle wagons where reported have blocked nearby streets before seizing the headquarters of Defense Ministry, according to military sources.

It had been reported that the Mutinous soldiers were protesting about delay in the payment of government wages as well as poor working conditions.

Last March, military forces blocked main roads in Mogadishu, in protest to lack of payments for over 15 months mostly during the past Federal government led by former President Hasan Shaikh Mahmoud. 

But the new Somali government led by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo who was elected in last February, has promised the security forces to regularly pay the salaries and improve their working conditions to boost morale to defeat al-Qaida-linked al-Shabaab terror group. 

Developing story, more soon

GAROWEONLINE