Somalia President urges security agencies to implement arms, ammunition control procedures
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud chaired the National Security Council meeting in Mogadishu, addressing key issues, including preparations for assuming security responsibility from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
During the meeting, discussions focused on accelerating operations against al-Shabaab, completing the withdrawal of ATMIS forces, and preparing for the Somalia National Army (SNA) takeover plan to maintain security after the withdrawal of the African troops.
Ministers from the security sector and army commanders briefed the president on the country’s security development plan and the progress made in recent military operations in Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and the southwest state.
Over 50 al-Shabab were reportedly killed in the latest air strike conducted by the Somalian army forces, supported by international partners in the Lower Shabelle and Galgadud regions. President Hassan Sheikh urged security agencies to implement Arms and Ammunition Control Procedures following the lifting of the arms embargo.
In December last year, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted to remove the final restrictions on weapons deliveries to Somalia’s government and its security forces, ending a 30-year arms embargo imposed on the country.
For nearly a decade, Al-Shabab has been engaged in combat with that government.
The group is in charge of most of southern and central Somalia, but it has also managed to spread its influence into regions that the government, which is headquartered in Mogadishu, controls.
