Somalia army clamps down on illegal weapons

Press TV
Monday, February 27, 2012

advertisements

Security forces in the Somali capital Mogadishu have launched a major operation in the past days in a bid to clump down on illegal arms and trade that has been on the rise in the bullet riddled capital.

Government forces have been accused of causing insecurity in the region but the security forces however claim otherwise and argue that civilians dress in military uniform and commit series of crimes that are blamed on the government forces.

Several key districts of the capital like Hamar Jajab, Wardhigley, Bondhere and Howlwadag have witnessed the security operations that has also seen the arrest of more than one hundred people mainly youths.

Public vehicles were also not spared in the operation that saw vehicles ferrying metals and weapons seized. Military uniform and rifles were also seized in the week long crackdown. Majority of the people arrested were youths below the ages of 22 with the government calling on these youth to refrain from engaging in insecurity and denounce violence.

The Somali government is still struggling to combat threats from the Al-Shabaab who have been now incorporated into Al Qaeda.

“The search operations commenced shortly after Mogadishu came under attacks with majority of them being car bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices that has claimed the lives of many, at a time when the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and AMISOM were arguing that the security state of the capital had steadily improved”

Home
Email

Hiiraan Online