The Federal Government of Somali (FGS) has denied accusations to the effect hat it has not provided salaries for members of the armed forces for the past few months. The reaction follows reports in some section of the Somali media that contingents of the armed forces deployed along Mogadishu-Marka road had on Sunday vacated their bases in protest of lack salary payment.
A press statement from the Ministry of the Defence has categorically denied the claims stating that each and every member of force receives a monthly stipend through a personal bank account: Each and every registered armed forces member gets a wage via bank account at the end of the month.”.
The Defence Ministry, however, acknowledged some officers may have failed to get their salaries on time owing to a verification process that is ongoing. He asked the affected officers to immediately alert the authorities over the same at the nearest specified centre: “Any registered member, who has not received monthly wages can register at the nearest station, ” the Defence Ministry assured.
There is an ongoing digital registration of members of the Somali armed forces, which was launched by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo’s government shortly after coming to power two years ago. The process is meant to improve the welfare of the forces, including coming up with smooth procedures to end corruption and do away with ghost employees in the defence department. The exercise, which also involves registration of all civil servants, is scheduled to conclude before the end of the year.
