TFG Soldier Getting Paid
After three months of waiting without salary, Transitional Federal Government(TFG) soldiers in Lower Juba and Gedo region finally received payment on Saturday, report TFG officials and soldiers.
Ahmed Gulaid, a TFG commander in Qooqani of lower Juba, spoke with Somalia Report, “Due to fighting in the region, we had difficulty paying the salaries but they have now been paid.” Soldiers received between $330 and $960 of their three month salaries, according to rank. He added that the Kenyan governments appreciates the service of the soldiers.
Hashi Ma’allin, a TFG soldier in El-waq district, told Somalia Report, “We received our salaries today, and are grateful because we can feed our families. We don't blame the government for the delay in salaries, because we understand that the regions have seen fierce fighting for the past three months, even if it was hard on our families. We will continue to fight to eliminate al-Shabaab from the region.”
Wiilo Sheikh, a resident of Kiyambow of lower Juba, told Somalia Report she was grateful her husband had received his salary, “I am grateful because we have food, sustenance and can pay the school fees for our three children.”
The payment of the soldiers' salary comes one day after TFG troops, supported by Ahlu Sunnah wal Jamaah (ASWJ) militia and Kenyan soldiers, seized several villages in the Gedo region including El-Adde and Fafadun.
