TFG forces receiving pay four months ago (file photo)
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces are complaining about not being paid for a fourth consecutive month and requesting the immediate settlement of the arrears.
Bashi Ahmed Kalikali, a junior TFG military officer in Mogadishu, told Somalia Report that July was the last time they were paid and they have not been told why they haven't been paid since then.
“We are fighting with al-Shaaaab, we left our family and children to defend the country, and we didn’t get what we deserve; we forwarded our complaint to the president, who visited us lately and he promised to give us our salaries,” Bashi said.
A senior officer from the TFG defense ministry confirmed to Somalia Report that wages were not being paid, blaming international donors for the shortfall.
“The government can get enough finance when they take control of all the regions of the country, and receive income from the taxation, but for the moment the salaries come from the international community and the UN; if we don’t get it from them, then it’s not possible to be given all their salaries,” he said
Earlier this year, the government began paying salaries regularly for the first time. Its sudden claims of poverty will likely cut little ice with the troops, who see millions of dollars coming in from taxation of Mogadishu port, and also are aware the government confiscated $3.6 million dollars in pirate ransom from a security earlier this year - money that has not been accounted for in public.
Dr Omar Ahmed, a Somali academic and politician, believes that the lack of payment can cause problems with the TFG forces fighting al-Shabaab and force them to rob the people.
“It’s obvious that a soldier with a gun who is not paid is due will give residents a hard time and rob them; it’s possible that he will the front line in order to earn a daily living,” Dr Omar told Somalia Report. “Each AMISOM soldier receives $1300 per month and is paid monthly, while the Somali soldiers earn $200 and don't receive their wages for months."
During the short tenure of Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, who was forced out earlier this year, the soldiers received their wages regularly, making his departure extremely unpopular among the armed forces, who joined civilians in demonstrating at Farmajo's ouster.
In recent months, the killing of civilians has increased as TFG forces loot humanitarian aid. The government has called for such behavior to cease, but without a living wage, many unruly soldiers will continue to rob civilians.
http://www.somaliareport.com/index.php/ ... ithout_Pay
