MOGADISHU, (HAN) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Friday reiterated his government’s ban on heavy weapons in the capital, stressing that the policy is fully in effect and will be strictly enforced.
“The decision prohibiting the movement and deployment of heavy arms in Mogadishu is effective and remains non-negotiable,” Mohamud said after Friday prayers at the presidential palace. “Security forces have been given strict orders to ensure compliance by all actors.”
First introduced earlier this year, the directive is part of a broader security plan aimed at curbing the flow of unauthorized weapons into the city, which has endured decades of violence.
Residents have long expressed concern over an armed convoy of vehicles moving through crowded streets—often linked to politicians, clan militias, or private security companies.
Officials say the ban is intended to protect civilians, prevent clashes, and reinforce the authority of state institutions in Mogadishu. The restriction covers mounted machine guns, rocket launchers, and other heavy weaponry frequently seen on technical vehicles.
The announcement comes amid Somalia’s fragile security environment. Federal forces, supported by African Union troops, continue to battle Al-Shabaab in rural strongholds, while the insurgent group carries out bombings and assassinations in the capital.
Mogadishu has also been a flashpoint for political rivalries between the central government and federal member states, at times escalating into armed standoffs.
Security analysts warn that enforcing the ban will be a critical test of the government’s capacity to assert authority over the city’s diverse armed actors, where clan loyalties and competing power centers often complicate security operations.
Still, President Mohamud insisted the measure will stand as a “cornerstone of our security policy and a guarantee for the safety of our people.”
