Mogadishu (HOL) Banadir regional police on Saturday showcased weapons and military vehicles they claimed to have recovered from the Mirinaayo area of Abdiaziz district, where former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed had recently resided.
Banadir Regional Police Commander Col. Mahdi Omar Mumin informed reporters that security forces had confiscated 17 BKM machine guns, five RPG launchers, one sniper rifle, one PTM, 14 vehicles, an undisclosed number of AK-47 rifles and a substantial amount of ammunition.
Mahdi accused opposition groups of possessing the weapons as part of plans to destabilize Mogadishu’s security.
“It was time to halt the use of illegal weapons,” he stated, noting that the federal government had made the decision to gather unauthorized weapons in the capital.
The police commander revealed that authorities had previously confiscated other weapons reportedly linked to forces loyal to former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire.
He confirmed that the operation to retrieve illegal weapons would continue and appealed to individuals and groups still possessing unauthorized arms to surrender them voluntarily.
Mahdi also cautioned security officers and soldiers suspected of supporting opposition groups, warning that anyone involved in orchestrating insecurity or attacking government institutions would face prosecution and legal proceedings.
He encouraged political parties to voice their concerns through peaceful methods and legal avenues.
The weapons exhibition followed days of heightened tension and armed confrontations in Mogadishu between government forces and opposition-aligned groups. The clashes, which started near Dabka junction, extended into multiple districts and displaced thousands of families before subsiding.
Opposition leaders have charged the federal government with employing security operations to quell political dissent and peaceful demonstrations. Federal officials assert that the measures are essential for restoring order, eliminating illegal weapons, and preventing armed groups from destabilizing the capital.