Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, who leads Somalia’s Wadajir Party, has asked Turkey to stop funding the army since it is involved in violence in the country.
Turkey has been supporting Somalia National Army financially. SNA has a special unit of Turkish trained troops called Haram’ad, which means ‘Cheetah.’
According to the opposition leader, the government then assigns graduates from the training to take part in various skirmishes around the country.
He accused the Federal Government of Somalia of using the trainees for political expediency. Warsame says Haram’ad members are responsible for creating internal conflicts in the country.
In the last two years, Turkey has emerged one of Somalia’s biggest donors. Their donations help Somalia with military training and equipment.
Ankara has been doing this under a project that it uses to build a stable state.
Warsame gave the examples of the recent crises in Dhusamareb and Gedo were the handiwork of Haram’ad. The conflict in Gedo has left more than 50,000 Somalis displaced.
Wadajir party leader is not the only politician making such claims against the Federal Government of Somalia. Several leaders have expressed similar sentiments.