Jowhar (PP News Desk ) —The President of Hirshabelle State of Somalia Ali Guudlaawe accused contingents of the Somali Army of manning illegal roadblocks in the state.
“These days we have been hearing of illegal roadblocks (isbaaro) in Hirshabelle. We have to ask who runs those roadblocks. Who is harassing people travelling in the region? As you know, there was a declaration issued in Adale in the presence of the President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and senior commanders and local notables. We discussed issues such as roadblocks and recurrent intra-clan wars. I want to make it clear that contingents of the Somali National Army run illegal roadblocks in Hirshabelle. They are wearing the army dress, drive army transport, and get paid. They damage the reputation of the army. No clan militias run the roadblocks in Hirshabelle. Only the Hirshabelle Finance Ministry has two checkpoints at coastal area near Eel Adde and at Bal’ad for customs in line with our constitutional right to raise tax revenues locally” said Guudlawe.
President Guudlaawe commended the people of Hirshabelle for their role in fighting militant extremists of Al-shabaab, and urged them to prepare for the second phase of the campaign against the proscribed group.
The revelations that warlord style roadblocks have sprung up in Hirshabelle will raise questions about the Federal Government of Somalia’s intentions to have the arms embargo on Somalia lifted.
© Puntland Post, 2023
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