No exceptions. No uniforms off duty. Mogadishu enforces the rules ahead of elections.
Somali police have arrested 11 soldiers in Mogadishu for carrying weapons illegally while off duty, as authorities intensify security enforcement ahead of local council elections.
In a statement, the Banadir Regional Police Command said the detained soldiers violated standing security directives that prohibit off-duty personnel from moving around the capital while armed. The rule is part of broader efforts to reduce civilian risk and prevent unauthorized use of weapons in public spaces.
“The 11 suspects are currently in police custody and will be referred to the appropriate court to ensure compliance with the law and to take the necessary legal measures,” the police command said.
Officials described the arrests as part of a wider campaign to strengthen public security in Mogadishu, where security agencies have renewed enforcement of previously issued orders banning off-duty officers from carrying firearms.
The operation comes as Somalia prepares for local council elections scheduled for Thursday, December 25. Security agencies have announced heightened readiness, with nearly 10,000 police officers deployed to secure polling stations and key locations across the capital.
Speaking to the media, Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail (Farataag), Somalia’s Minister of Internal Security, said the Somali Police Force has finalized comprehensive security plans to ensure the elections are conducted peacefully, safely, and fairly.
Authorities say the enforcement drive sends a clear message that security rules apply to all personnel, regardless of rank, as Mogadishu enters a sensitive political period.
