US suspends food rations to Somalia’s elite Danab forces amid corruption scandal
The United States has halted food rations to Danab, Somalia’s renowned special forces unit, in the wake of a staggering corruption scandal.
The suspension, a severe blow to the elite force, comes after revelations of widespread misappropriation and resale of aid intended for the unit, which has long been supported and trained by the US in its fight against the Al-Shabab militant group.
The decision was relayed directly to key Somali military figures, including Deputy Minister of Defense Abdifatah Qasim and Chief of Defense Forces Ibrahim Sheikh Muhudin, during a meeting at the US embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.
Sources within the Somali National Army (SNA) suggest that the US may further contemplate halting fuel support to Danab pending additional investigations into the extent of the corruption.
In response to the crisis, the Somali government issued a statement on April 25th acknowledging the internal diversion of rations intended for Danab forces.
The statement disclosed that an investigation had been conducted, leading to the suspension and detention of unnamed officers implicated in the scandal.
The corruption scandal not only deals a significant setback to Somalia’s military efforts but also raises concerns about the integrity and effectiveness of aid distribution within the country’s armed forces.
