More than 200 youngsters who wanted to be recruited as members of the Somaliland National Army stated violent protests in Aynabo town after their recruitment was postponed.
Saraar regional police chief, Jama Ibrahim Adan, has told that the youngsters made violent revolt after their recruitment as members of Somaliland military was delayed.
He said: “It is a revolt staged by civilians who wanted to be enlisted as members of the National Army. They are not armed and stayed here for quite some time. The reason for the delay in their recruitment is that they do not have guns. They committed a grave act and torched the street.”
He told that the protests impacted trading centers in the town and attacked central police station, regional bank, and other gov’t centers.
He further revealed that many police officers sustained injuries during the protests.
He said that the protest was against the country’s laws.
He requested from youngsters that they have to submit their applications and not to resort to violent protests.
Somaliland Gov’t has nationalized local clan militias and others who wanted to join the national army for the past couple of months.
The gov’t has so far nationalized hundreds of combat vehicles and thousands of youngsters who were sent military trainings.
Somaliland gov’t said that the step to nationalize clan militias is to strengthen the peace, and at the same time build robust National Army.
The gov’t banned carrying weapons in areas where clan militias were nationalized.
