Somali forces to secure Mogadishu roads

Thursday, November 29, 2012

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Security forces in the Somali capital Mogadishu have in the past days embarked on major security operation to rid the Mogadishu roads off illegal road blocks which unlawful charges used to be collected from public service vehicles plying major Mogadishu roads.

The security operation targeted Mogadishu northern districts. The districts of Yaqshid and Karaan became the security forces focus of attention after serious complaints arose from public transport owners and drivers who accused men dressed in Somali military uniform of frequent extortion.

Earlier this week, Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ordered the security forces to clear all illegal road blocks terming it as a security threat to the people of Mogadishu. It is believed that there are more than 60 road block in Mogadishu alone.

Mogadishu Intelligence Chief Khalif Ahmed Ereg however says that the operation will last until all 16 districts of Mogadishu will be rid of road blocks and thanked the residents for cooperating with the security forces especially in identifying the road blocks.

Among the areas where security forces forcefully cleared the illegal road barriers include the San’aa junctuon, Fagah, and the livestock market. More than 70 people were arrested in the security swoop and a cache of weapons and ammunitions seized by security forces.

Mogadishu has been enjoying relative peace and calm in the past months as allied forces keep mounting pressure on the Somali Al-Shabaab fighter group. According to AMISOM, the significant security improvement follows targeted cordon and search operations to weed Al-Shabaab elements by the joint Somali national security forces together with AMISOM.

Somali government forces backed by AMISOM troops are slowly advancing towards Jowhar town in Middle Shabelle region, which is among the last remaining stronghold for the Al-Shabaab group.

Meanwhile, in Mogadishu the Somali security forces are trying to consolidate the latest security gains by launching security swoops to wipe out remnants of the Al-Shabaab.

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