The Somali National Security Council committee, orders TFG troops and other armed groups to remove r
Mahdi Haile
February 18, 2009
The National security committee said on Wednesday it was increasing its patrols in Mogadishu and had ordered the country´ armed factions, and TFG troops to remove all their remaining roadblocks.
the deputy force commander, said these informal roadblocks, manned by TFG forces and other movements, would no longer be tolerated.
"As far as we know, those illegal checkpoints established by the Soldiers are not meant to provide security. Their main purpose is to extort money from minibuses, travelers and harass civilians and this can not be allowed any longer", he told a news conference in the capital Monrovia.
"We have sent very strong instructions to all our sector commanders to deal with such situations up country," the soft-spoken Somali Committee member said."
We are also trying to guarantee security in areas outside of our deployment sites by increasing our patrols," he added.
The Somali police force in Mogadishu currently has just less than 2000 men on the ground. The peacekeeping force From African Union is about over 3000 more are expects to reach its full strength of 8000 men by late April or early May.
Last week, representatives from Banadir counties in southeastern and Northeren parts of Mogadishu meet with Mogadishu Mayor Dhagahtur to protest to the transitional government about continued looting and harassment by
their soldiers.
"Most of the times the soldiers set up checkpoints around afternoon and evening hours along the road leading to the towns and villages and ask civilians to take stand on line and demand money before anyone passes through a checkpoint," Ahmed Mahdale, a village elder from Hodan county told CSSU Deqa Roble.
Since late December, TFG troops have been stationed in two strongholds of the Mogadishu checkpoints. One is outside and the other is in the mid of the city.
They have also established a presence in the near by Vila Somalia, and the strategic places that Ethiopian troops have evacuated. The national Security Council committee was appointed by the Somali President Sharif early last week.
the deputy force commander, said these informal roadblocks, manned by TFG forces and other movements, would no longer be tolerated.
"As far as we know, those illegal checkpoints established by the Soldiers are not meant to provide security. Their main purpose is to extort money from minibuses, travelers and harass civilians and this can not be allowed any longer", he told a news conference in the capital Monrovia.
"We have sent very strong instructions to all our sector commanders to deal with such situations up country," the soft-spoken Somali Committee member said."
We are also trying to guarantee security in areas outside of our deployment sites by increasing our patrols," he added.
The Somali police force in Mogadishu currently has just less than 2000 men on the ground. The peacekeeping force From African Union is about over 3000 more are expects to reach its full strength of 8000 men by late April or early May.
Last week, representatives from Banadir counties in southeastern and Northeren parts of Mogadishu meet with Mogadishu Mayor Dhagahtur to protest to the transitional government about continued looting and harassment by
their soldiers.
"Most of the times the soldiers set up checkpoints around afternoon and evening hours along the road leading to the towns and villages and ask civilians to take stand on line and demand money before anyone passes through a checkpoint," Ahmed Mahdale, a village elder from Hodan county told CSSU Deqa Roble.
Since late December, TFG troops have been stationed in two strongholds of the Mogadishu checkpoints. One is outside and the other is in the mid of the city.
They have also established a presence in the near by Vila Somalia, and the strategic places that Ethiopian troops have evacuated. The national Security Council committee was appointed by the Somali President Sharif early last week.
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