MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s federal government has deployed hundreds of fresh troops on Saturday to the town of Baladwayne in Hiran region ahead of a military operation against forces led by rebellious former army general based on the outskirts of the town.
Four planes carrying hundreds of Turkish-trained police officers landed at Ugas Khalif airport in the town early on Saturday morning, local officials have told media.
Troops have established bases inside the town where tensions have been spiraling up since Ali Gudlawe has been elected Hirshabelle regional president in November last year.
The new deployment comes as the federal government plans to launch an offensive to drive militias loyal to rebellious former army general from the town, hours after Somali Prime Minister and the leaders of Hirshabelle, Galmudug and Southwest states and the Mayor of Mogadishu agreed to resume electoral process for the 2021 elections.
The federal government has not discussed the motive behind the deployment, but it comes after Hirshabelle president Ali Gudlawe has been denied entry to the town by local militias against his new administration.
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