MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s authorities has begun forcibly disarming former military commanders suspected of aligning with opposition figures, amid rising political tensions and issues over safety within the capital Mogadishu.
Safety forces on Wednesday raided the residence of Hassan Jami’i, a former navy commander within the Decrease Shabelle area, confiscating an armoured personnel provider and extra weaponry. The operation was performed with out violence, in response to officers.
The raid follows an analogous incident final week involving Colonel Ali Hubey, one other former commander, who was staying at a resort in Mogadishu when troops deployed unexpectedly and seized a navy automobile utilized by his bodyguards. Colonel Hubey is a relative of opposition determine and former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and is believed to be carefully aligned with him.
These actions come after the military chief, Normal Odowa Yusuf Rageh, introduced that every one unauthorised armed automobiles painted with navy colors and insignia could be banned from the streets of Mogadishu. The federal government says the brand new measures are a part of a broader effort to curb the unregulated use of navy belongings amid safety threats from militants.
Earlier this month, Al-Shabaab militants infiltrated Mogadishu utilizing a pickup automobile marked with the Somali intelligence company’s colors and insignia. The group launched a lethal assault on the second-largest compound of the Nationwide Intelligence and Safety Company (NISA), which homes an underground jail. The following siege of the NISA headquarters lasted greater than 10 hours, throughout which a lethal battle raged between the attackers and authorities forces.
Authorities say the brand new safety protocols purpose to stop such assaults from recurring by tightening management over navy automobiles and weapons in civilian areas. They argue that the presence of unofficial armed escorts will increase the danger of infiltration and confusion throughout emergencies.
Opposition leaders have opposed the measures, accusing the federal government of utilizing safety issues to weaken political rivals forward of upcoming elections. They argue that disarming opposition figures leaves them susceptible to assaults, together with from Al-Shabaab, and declare the federal government’s intentions are politically motivated.
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