Egypt Set to Boost Somali National Army

The Commander of the Somali Coast Guard Force, Admiral Farah Ahmed Omar Qare, told the media that two Egyptian generals had visited the country to study the ways rehabilitate the Somali National Army (SNA) facilities.

The Egyptian generals arrived at Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle International Airport on Tuesday and were received by Somali military officials.

The Egyptian officials, who briefed the media, outlined their country’s commitment to assisting in the rebuilding of the war-ravaged infrastructure.

“We will aid Somalia on the rebuilding of the army headquarters and military hospitals,” stated the officials.

“The facilities will also serve the civilian population in the capital city,” they added.

Somali army is one of the institutions that had received promises of support from various countries and agencies, including the African Union, the European Union and Turkey.

The collapse of the central government led by General Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, occasioned the collapse of all the state institutions, including the military, in the Horn of Africa country.

Almost all the new Somali army recruits were trained in neighbouring Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

Meanwhile, Somalia’s deputy minister for Public Works, Ports and Marine Transport, Nadifa Mohamed Osman, on a visit to Iraq, stated that Tehran would give $15 million assistance to Mogadishu.

Ms Nadifa told the press on Mogadishu Radio, a state run broadcaster, that the Iraqi fund would be used to rebuild public service institutions in the capital.

“Iraq will help Somalia in the rehabilitation of Lazaretti (also known as Forlanini) Hospital and Somali Institute of Development Administration and Management (SIDAM),” said the deputy minister.

She underlined that once rebuilt; the hospital would resume taking care of mental patients while SIDAM would resume training of personnel.

By ABDULKADIR KHALIF

 NATION MEDIA GROUP