MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – A shakeup in the security of Mogadishu’s Adan Adde airport is feared to put Somalia electoral talks on hold, shortly after leaders gathered at heavily fortified base to break deadlock over elections.
Tax Protection Directorate, a department responsible for the airport’s security and checkpoints under its control, was placed under the command of Banadir regional police chief, Sadak John, in what critics of the outgoing president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo say aims to disrupt international community-led talks.
Somali police chief Abdi Hassan Hijar said in a decree that the move had been made to ramp up security of the airport, though leaders of Puntland and Jubaland, who are currently attending summit with president Farmajo, earlier raised security concerns over the decision.
The shakeup will significantly impede international partners’ efforts aimed at resolving dispute over the elections despite demands by Jubaland and Puntland leaders that the outgoing president transfer security responsibilities before agenda for talks is set, regional officials have told Somaliguardian.
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