​Somalia's council of ministers meeting focuses on Security

MOGADISHU, Somalia- Somali cabinet members have held their weekly cabinet meeting in Mogadishu on Thursday, focusing on country's security and the ongoing London conference in UK, Garowe Online reports.

The cabinet welcomed London conference on Somalia and thanked UK government for hosting the meeting that will highlight on a range of issues, including security, development, political reforms and drought relief.

The heads of Somali national army, Police and Intelligence agency have briefed the cabinet ministers on the latest security developments in the country and the battle against the Al Qaida-linked Al shabaab group.

Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre who chaired the session commended the heads of military and security agencies and urged double up efforts to root out the militants of the country.

Meanwhile, the cabinet has overwhelmingly passed a new security measures bill to fight the militant group al-Shabaab, and counter the wave of terror attacks in the capital Mogadishu ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.

The ministers agreed to setting up a joint security force, comprising of Police, military and Intelligence officers tasked with stabilization Mogadishu under one command, according to the statement.

The statement indicated that Federal government officials were ordered to hand over the weapons, vehicles and security bodyguards to the command of the country's army within 10 days, starting from May 11.

Each government official is allowed to have only two vehicles and four bodyguards with light weapons.

The owners of business centers are also instructed to inform about their private security guards and weapons to the new command, and urged to take part the stabilization process.

The command of the Somali Police was ordered to form a special force to protect officials and key government buildings within two months.

Somalia’s capital Mogadishu witnessed a wave of deadly attacks and targeted assassinations by armed militant group al-Shabaab in the past few months that caused causalities, mostly civilians and government officials.

GAROWEONLINE