MOGADISHU (KAAB TV) – Somalia’s military forces court has taken over a corruption case involving widespread arrests and the diversion of food contributions for the Danab (Dawo) forces, which are special units within the Somali armed forces. Minister of Defence Abdul Qadir Mohamed Noor (University), in a special interview with Universal Television, revealed facts about the incident, showing the amount of corruption in the Danab military command.
Minister Abdukadir said the wrongdoing occurred over two weeks ago, when food intended for Danab forces were illegally diverted and traded in Mogadishu’s major marketplaces. He confirmed that senior army officers were involved in this illegal act and declared that stern punishment will be taken against them according to the law.
“It has been confirmed that a group of the Danab brigade misused rations intended for the army to use,” Minister Abdul Qadir said during the interview. He went on to claim that the Somali Armed Forces responded immediately, resulting in the arrest of those directly involved in the diversion operation.
The investigation and legal processes in the corruption case have now been filed to the Armed Forces Court. Minister Abdulkadir emphasised the government’s commitment to combating corruption and maintaining the integrity of the armed forces.
In terms of international working together, the US administration has committed to continue providing support to Danab forces, with the exception of food. A US official restated Washington’s commitment to pursuing accountability and putting in place safeguards to prevent future corruption situations.
Minister Abdul Qadir, on the other hand, answered inquiries regarding his personal activities, such as his use of the social media app TikTok. He defended his usage of TikTok to effectively transmit messages and expressed a willingness to continue using the platform despite the criticism.
The controversy that has come to light has received a lot of attention in Somalia and around the world, as the relevant parties are closely monitoring the progress of the investigation and the steps taken by the authorities in the corruption concerns, in the army.