Justice Minister Admits that troops take extortion Money

Somalia: Justice Minister admits troops 'take extortion money'
29 Aug 29, 2009 - 11:30:00 AM

MOGADISHU, Somalia Aug 29 (Garowe Online) - A Cabinet minister in Somalia has admitted that government forces 'take extortion money' from commercial and civilian traffic at an important checkpoint, Radio Garowe reports.

Sheikh Abdirahman Janakow, the Somali Minister of Justice, told reporters Friday in the capital Mogadishu that government forces at the checkpoint connecting Mogadishu to the agricultural town of Afgoye is manned by "loyal soldiers."

Somali Justice Minister
"But the government does not take any money from vehicles…securing Mogadishu includes fighting against illegal checkpoints," the Justice Minister said.

The checkpoint on the road linking Mogadishu to Afgoye is manned by Somali soldiers, who stop every vehicle and collect cash, witnesses and officials say. The checkpoint has been attacked numerous times by insurgents, most recently last Thursday. READ: 4 killed in battle over key Mogadishu checkpoint

"We asked the officers if they authorized the collection of money [at the checkpoint] and they said no," Justice Minister Janakow said, adding: "This shows that there is an illegal operation."

Recently, Somali military spokesman Sheikh Abdirisak Mohamed Qeylow told reporters that the government plans to replace soldiers at the checkpoint.

Separately, commercial truck drivers in Mogadishu have declared a "three-day strike" and have refused to deliver goods to Bakara Market.

The drivers complain that they pay "lots of money" on the way to delivering goods to particular destinations.

Somalia's UN-backed transitional government is battling against Islamist insurgents who have vowed to overthrow the five-year-old government in Mogadishu.