MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Turkish-trained troops killed the commander of police in the central Somalia town of Baladweyne Mohamed Hussein Mohamud following heavy fighting on Thursday morning, weeks after hundreds of troops had been airlifted to the restive town to quash dissent.
Tensions are high in the central town and rival troops are building up ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for next week. The former head of the Somali intelligence agency Fahad Yasin is expected to arrive in the town to run for parliament amid growing allegations that he is fostering an environment conducive for attempts to rig the vote in his favor.
Several former officials, who are willing to participate in the contest for a number of parliamentary polls, arrived in the town this week. Among them are key critics of the President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, whose airlift of hundreds of Turkish-trained troops sparked a rebuke by cabinet.
Clashes broke out in the town following a standoff over detainees at a police station in Baladwayne as Turkish-trained troops had pushed for their release despite resistance from local police officials.
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