Somali opposition leaders have commended the decision by Somali prime minister, Mohamed Hussein Roble to investigate allegations that Somali National Army (SNA) recruits participated in Tigray conflict.
Early this month, a UN report claimed that Somali soldiers are fighting alongside Eritrean troops in Ethiopia’s war-torn Tigray region.
“In addition to reports of the involvement of Eritrean troops in the Tigray conflict, the special rapporteur also received information and reports that Somali soldiers were moved from military training camps in Eritrea to the front line in Tigray, where they accompanied Eritrean troops as they crossed the Ethiopian border,” the UN report said.
Saturday, PM Roble appointed a high-level government commission of inquiry to investigate complaints by Somali parents who have not heard from their sons who went to Eritrea for training.
In a statement, Somalia’s Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC) lauded the move saying investigation into the allegations of the missing soldiers.
The leaders also urged the PM to replace some of the individuals whom the opposition said to have been the government.
“The council would like to welcome the decision of the prime minister to appoint national level commission of inquiry to probe complaints by Somali parents and human rights groups,” the statement. “The council urges Roble reappoint neutral committee from civil society and political parties in order get the public.”
Defense minister Hassan Hussein Hajji, Interior Minister Mukhtar Hussein Afrah and Army Chief of Staff Odawa Yusuf Rageh are among those selected to be on the commission.
