Somali police have arrested 11 armed soldiers after they were found illegally carrying weapons in the heart of Mogadishu, authorities said on Tuesday.
According to a statement from the Somali Police Force, officers from the Capital Police and Central Station Command intercepted the suspects while they were moving through the city without official authorization and not on active duty.
Police said the soldiers violated clear security directives that ban off-duty personnel from carrying weapons inside the capital, a rule designed to reduce fear among civilians and tighten control over arms in the city.
“These individuals ignored standing security orders,” the police statement said, stressing that Mogadishu is not a free-carry zone, even for members of the security forces.
The 11 suspects are currently in police custody and will be handed over to the relevant court to face legal proceedings.
The arrests come as authorities continue efforts to reinforce law and order in Mogadishu, where security agencies have been under pressure to curb the misuse of weapons and restore public confidence.
Bottom line: uniforms don’t mean immunity. In today’s Mogadishu, rules apply to everyone — gun or no gun.
