Mohamud bans carrying of weapons in Mogadishu streets

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Monday ordered a ban on the carrying weapons in the streets of Mogadishu.

Mohamud made the remarks after the Friday prayers at a mosque inside the presidential palace.

“We impose a strict ban on carrying guns in the streets of Mogadishu. One cannot justify having machine guns mounted on vehicles and rocket propelled grenades in the streets, for protection from a hiding Al-Shabab militant armed with a pistol,” the president said. He also warned to “fight against those who fail to abide by the measures”.

The president also banned the importation of “any kind of military wear into the country” as well as Toyota pickups commonly known as Abdi Bile after a Somali runner who won the 1987 World Championship 1,500-meter in Rome. The pickup is preferred by soldiers in Somalia to mount self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

The latest order targets government officials and top politicians who often drive along Mogadishu streets guarded by heavily armed soldiers mounted on Abdi Bile vehicles as they are normally targeted by Al-Shabaab militants.