Somalia imposes total ban on smuggled weapons

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A few days after weapons smuggled to the country were seized by tribal militia, Somalia imposed a total ban on the trade, smuggling, and other transactions related to the weapons and ammunition within the country by non-state actors.

In an extraordinary meeting chaired by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the country, through the National Security Council, condemned the smuggling of illicit weapons through neighbouring Ethiopia, terming the incident as a 'threat to national security'.

In a communique, the council reiterated that the Central Monitoring Department (CMD) continues to serve as an important institution which addresses the pressing need for oversight and responsible weapons and ammunition management across Somalia.

Yet again, the team directed the Ministry of Internal Security in collaboration with the other security agencies to submit a detailed report and recommendations within two weeks concerning the incident, identifying those responsible, and proposing strict measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Furthermore, the Council agreed to impose a total ban on the trade, smuggling, and any other business related to weapons and ammunition within the country by non-state actors in accordance with the existing legal frameworks.

According to the council, it will present the Weapons Procurement Policy to the Council of Ministers of the FGS. Also, it was agreed that the Ministry of Justice and law enforcement authorities to swiftly bring all the perpetrators involved in these illegal activities to justice.

Moments before the meeting, Internal Security Minister Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail arrived in Abudwak town in an apparent attempt to get the help of local leaders and elders in returning the weapons seized recently by the armed locals. A local elder told VOA that returning the weapons will be “hard.”

"Maintaining and defending our hard-earned peace and security is paramount. Today, I have arrived in Abudwak to reaffirm this commitment and engage in a series of consultations with the community," the minister wrote on X.

GAROWE ONLINE