The Somaliland government has purchased the vehicles and weapons of the civilian forces in the Sanaag region, while they have been sent for military training.
Defense Minister Mohamed Yusuf Ali said that military forces armed with civilian vehicles that had been repainted were deployed to the areas where the tribal forces were taken.
“Instead of 200, 400 were deployed with their own vehicles and vehicles taken from the civilian forces, which were spray-painted with the national emblem, and each vehicle was returned to where it came from,” said Minister Ali.
The nationalized civilian forces have been sent to training camps, where they will receive military training, and will be distributed among the various forces.
It was reported that the government has returned the money to the clans from which the military vehicles and weapons were taken, so the army has taken possession of all the military equipment that was previously owned by the clans.
This step is intended to bring peace to the eastern regions of Somaliland, and to disarm the population, after which a peaceful settlement will be established for the people living in the areas, according to the government.
The Minister of Defense said that they will travel to other areas where civilian forces are present, to nationalize the remaining ones.
