Millions of dollars from International donors propping up Somalia’s gov. Record revenue from #Mogadishu taxpayers. Yet troops in Somalia fighting Al-Shabaab militants aren’t receiving compensation. As officials in Somalia are siphoning off the troops' salaries. A thread

December 2017: The United States suspended aid for most of Somalia's armed forces after the government officials failed to account for food, fuel and weapons. https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.voanews.com/usa/us-suspends-aid-much-somali-military%3famp

March 2019: Somali National Army (SNA) vacated their military barracks in #Balcad town, about 30KM north of Mogadishu. They did not receive salaries for nine months. They also demanded an apology from the former prime minister @HassanAKhaire, for lying about troops' salaries.

March 2019: SNA troops also vacated their barracks in #Baraawe, a port town on the southern coast of Somalia, over unpaid salary. They did not receive compensation for four months!

April 2019: a group of disabled veterans and spouses of fallen soldiers gathered outside the @TheVillaSomalia presidential palace in Mogadishu to protest months of unpaid benefits and compensation.

October 2019: President @M_Farmaajo tells members serving in the military if they’re patriotic, they shouldn’t demand compensation to defend their nation. The statement was an attempt to dismiss grievances of unpaid salaries.

June 2020: Soldiers of the 27th Division went on strike in Mogadishu, blocking roads in a protest over unpaid salaries. They weren’t paid a salary for a year and a half.

September 2020: Security Forces blocked roads in #Mogadishu to protest three months of unpaid salaries. What makes soldiers' complaint even more alarming is the fact they're members of the National Intelligence & Security Agency (NISA)