MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – African Union peacekeepers in Somalia refused to cooperate with Somali government troops in military operations against fighters of the militant group Al-Shabaab, the governor of Hiran region Ali Jayte Osman and a military official said on Sunday.
The officials stressed that AMISOM troops declined calls by regional authorities for participating in military operations aimed to retake territory held by the Al-Qaed-affiliate in Hiran region.
“The mandate of AMISOM troops should be reviewed, they are not doing their duty,” Hiran governor Ali Jayte said.
Djibouti’s AMISOM peacekeepers in the region rebuffed a number of calls for support in onslaughts against militants, who continue to beset the restive region, he added.
“African Union troops based in the region have not launched a single operation for four years since Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo was elected to office,” Mohamed Hassan Baka, commander of Somali army’s fifth division said.
AMISOM has not immediately commented on the claims, which come weeks after a dispute between Somali army chief and the commanders of the African Union peacekeepers emerged over the fight against Al-Qaeda-aligned militants.
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