Saturday September 21, 2024
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud delivers a Friday sermon. He warned against the threat of foreign adversaries seeking to divide the nation and reiterated the government’s firm stance on combating the illegal arms trade. (Photo: Villa Somalia)
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has issued a sharp warning against the possession and trade of illegal weapons, stressing that his government is determined to take strict measures against those involved.
Speaking during the Friday prayer sermon at Villa Somalia Mosque, President Mohamud urged citizens to avoid storing or transporting illegal arms, emphasizing the severe consequences for those who do.
“Don’t allow weapons to be stored in your home, don’t carry them in your vehicle, and don’t engage in the arms trade. Regret won’t save you later,” the president said, urging Somalis to refrain from participating in illegal arms activities.
The president also stated that law enforcement would not hesitate to act, revealing that security forces would be authorized to conduct raids on homes suspected of housing illegal weapons.
“If security forces discover that your home contains weapons, they will secure a court order, even at 3 a.m., and they will enter your house,” he said.
The president’s stern message follows security operations in the capital. Somali police, in a series of raids across the Banadir region on Thursday, confiscated 33 AK-47 rifles and four PKM machine guns and arrested four arms traders.
Banadir Regional Police Commander Mahdi Omar Mumin called on residents to cooperate with authorities and report any activities related to the arms trade. “It is unacceptable to sell illegal weapons in the districts of Banadir Region. We will arrest those who are still dealing with weapons in their homes,” Mumin said. Somalia’s cabinet passed a resolution in July 2024 prohibiting the arms trade by non-state actors.
The Somali government recently accused Ethiopia of smuggling arms into the Puntland region without proper clearance. In a statement, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the arrival of two trucks carrying weapons from Ethiopia, calling it a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and a threat to regional security.
