Nearly 10,000 members of the Somali National Army have reportedly had their salaries reduced this month in a move said to be linked to a military personnel verification process known as suul-saar.
The reports come as some military personnel are said to have received outstanding entitlements that had remained unpaid since 2024.
The reported deductions have raised concerns about soldiers’ financial security and the potential impact on their families, many of whom rely on government salaries to meet basic living expenses.
According to information circulating about the latest payroll, approximately 10,000 soldiers were affected by the deductions. However, the precise number of personnel involved, the amounts withheld and the reasons for individual deductions have not been independently confirmed.
The suul-saar process is understood to be associated with verifying military personnel and their registration records, helping authorities establish who is eligible to receive salaries.
Such checks can be used to identify discrepancies in personnel lists and payroll records, although it remains unclear whether the reported deductions resulted from attendance verification, administrative errors or other factors.
The reports also indicate that some military personnel received payments this month for entitlements that had been outstanding since 2024.
Further details are needed to establish which ranks or groups received the payments, the amounts involved and whether the arrears have been fully settled.
The reported salary cuts have prompted questions about the financial circumstances of soldiers and their dependants. Military salaries often cover essential household costs, including food, rent, children’s education and healthcare.
Any significant interruption in payments can therefore place additional pressure on families who depend on regular wages.
If the reported deductions affect thousands of personnel simultaneously, clarification will be needed on the reasons for the decision, how long the deductions may continue and whether affected soldiers can challenge errors in their records or payroll status.
Somalia’s Ministry of Defence and the National Army command have yet to provide a detailed public explanation of the reported cuts, including the number of soldiers affected and the procedures available for submitting complaints.
Official clarification would help establish whether the deductions were part of routine personnel verification or resulted from other administrative decisions.
Transparency over payroll adjustments, outstanding entitlements and appeals procedures is also important for ensuring that soldiers receive the salaries and benefits to which they are entitled.