Banadir Regional Police Chief Mahdi Omar Mumin has criticized politicians for neglecting to enforce the weapons ban issued by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, casting doubt on the government’s capacity to implement security measures amid ongoing instability. According to Muumin, officers have initiated an operation to prevent the open carrying of weapons in the city.
“Government officials have not yet complied with the directives. They are still carrying machine guns and PKMs. Anyone found with a heavy weapon or PKM will be stopped and arrested,” said the commander. Muumin also warned that anyone violating the arms control order would face prosecution.
President Mohamud announced the new directive last week during a Friday prayer sermon explicitly prohibiting individuals other than government security forces on active duty from carrying heavy weapons in public on Mogadishu’s streets. The government says that the measure is part of a broader initiative to reduce violence and foster stability in the face of the extremist group al-Shabab.
“We impose a strict ban on carrying guns in the streets of Mogadishu. It is unreasonable to have machine guns mounted on vehicles and rocket-propelled grenades in the streets for protection from an elusive al-Shabab militant armed merely with a pistol,” the president stated. He emphasized that disobeying the ban would not be tolerated and that violators would face the consequences.
