MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A dispute between Somalia’s army and African Union peacekeepers has escalated over the past weeks, heightening concerns that it could undermine cooperation on the military operations against militants, VOA Somali Service reported on Tuesday.
It came after the Somali army chief Gen. Odowa Yusuf Rage wrote to AMISOM commanders in the country, criticizing their reluctance to participate in military operations aimed at dislodging militants from key strongholds and accusing them of being lazy and uncommitted to fighting Al-Shabaab.
Since then tensions have been escalating and AMISOM did not participate in a military operation launched by the Somali army in the Middle Shabelle region which failed to meet intended results and caused the deaths and injuries of key military figures.
Somalia’s army and AMISOM have not yet commented on the report, which comes days after African Union report triggered the ire of the government of the Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.
The African Union blamed the Somali administration’s failure to adhere to the constitution and implement previous agreements for the yet untackled insecurity and Al-Shabaab’s continued attacks taking place across the war-torn nation, though the federal government rejected the claim.
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