Why does Ishmael say “the so-called army?”

The army was made up of recruits and volunteers from all over..... many forced to participate, others, like Beah, drugged into complacency. In context..... the army wasn't organized..... it wasn't what understand as a protective force. It was something far different.

“So we all fought on the same side of the war,” Alhaji said, and we all sat down, still glaring at each other. Upon learning that we had all fought for the so-called army, in different parts of the country, we calmed down and talked about what bases we were from.