Somalia President Unveils a Raft of Counterterrorism Security Measures

President Mohamud: “Every driver regardless of his or her rank must allow to have his or her car searched at a checkpoint. No trader is allowed to import military uniforms.”

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — At the Friday sermon in the presidency mosque President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud yesterday unveiled a raft of security measures for Mogadishu residents. President Mohamud said measures were intended to prevent security loopholes exploited by Al-shabaab. “No one will be allowed to use Browning machine guns mounted on four wheel drive vehicles in Mogadishu. Those vehicles cannot deter Al-shabaab operatives armed with handguns nor will they give citizens a peace of mind.

Every driver regardless of his or her rank must allow to have his or her car searched at any checkpoint. It is illegal to mport military uniforms. Al-shabaab members impersonate security forces. An Al-shabaab terrorist has enablers who facilitate infiltration or bypassing checkpoints” said President Mohamud.

President Mohamud urged Mogadishu residents to play a role in implementing the security measures. “I call for young Somali men still fighting for Al-shabaab to defect. Former Al-shabaab members are in business and work in the public sector” said President Mohamud. The security measures will be publicised through the government mass media. There has long been speculation that Al-shabaab sends its operatives to infiltrate security forces by pretending to have defected.

© Puntland Post, 2023