DANGEROUS SIGNALS AND UNCONFIRMED REPORTS ON ARMS DISTRIBUTION TO MOGADISHU RESIDENTS TO FIGHT ALSHABAB

If true, that is a dangerous move by the Administration of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. There are world efforts to curtail small arms, especially in areas of civil conflicts like Somalia. Release of arms to non-state combatants is a recipe for civil war and disaster. This was what had happened in Somalia. This is what is happening in Ethiopia today in its conflict with TPLF. In developing countries, the right to bear arms must exclusively be reserved to the state security apparatus. Here in Somalia, you can’t fight Alshabab by distributing more arms to the civil population without risking widespread violence again. By doing this, you do more harm. In war-torn countries like Somalia, arms should be confiscated instead of issuing more to the general public. Mogadishu and other towns are full already of huge amount of arms, ammunition, and even battle-wagons (technicals).

Reports from Mogadishu, though unsubstantiated, are alarming. If true, nobody is safe there. There could be renewed civil war and violence that would make Alshabab menace look like a minor security inconvenience.

In his previous stint in Villa Somalia, President Mohamud had been accused of being behind the incident of break-in then into arms cache at presidency.

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