It is believed to be the first time the fanatical Islamist group has constituted a non-combatant police force to deal with public services.
The newly-trained traffic policemen were on display over the weekend at Elasha Biyaha, one of the camping services whereby hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the war in Mogadishu have set up shelters.
According to al-Shabaab officials in Lower Shabelle region, the new force is meant to ease congestion on the Mogadishu-Afgoye highway that passes through most of the displaced people’s camps.
"The force with a distinct khaki colour uniform is also meant to take measures to prevent accidents,” said Sheikh Mohamed Abu Abdalla, the al-Shabaab Wali (governor) of the region launching the new force.
Source: Africa Review