Somali government has fully taken charge of United Arab Emirates (UAE) trained soldiers in Mogadishu, military official confirmed on Saturday.
Early this month, the country’s Defense Ministry announced the UAE trained units would be handed over to Somali government.
Somali National Army (SNA) Force commander, Abdullahi Ali Anod said the government of Somalia fully assumed responsibility of the forces trained by UAE at General Gordan Academy in Mogadishu.
“Today, we have formally assumed responsibility of forces who had been trained by UAE, we have also received military vehicles, trucks and ambulances and other military equipment,” said Anod.
The commander told the reporters that the contingent which dubbed Daljir will be under the umbrella of the national army and will take part in operations to fight against Al-Shabab.
The move comes after UAE declared to have cancelled its military training mission in Somalia in a protest of the seizure of the plane carrying three unmarked bag stuffed with 9.6 million USD.
In a statement posted on UAE owned news agency, WAM, the Gulf nation said it cancelled military training and support to Somali security forces.
“The UAE has decided to disband its military training programme in Somalia which started in 2014 to build the capabilities of the Somali army, the decision comes in response to Somali security forces’ seizure of a UAE-registered civil aircraft at Mogadishu Airport and confiscation of money destined to pay the soldiers.” read the statement.
The diplomatic tussle between Somalia and the United Arab Emirates has been escalating since early this year when UAE owned Port Company announced a controversial deal it signed with Somaliland and Ethiopia
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