Somali legislators have praised the people of Abudwak district in the Galgadud region for intercepting two truckloads of weapons on Monday, which they allege were intended for the militant group al-Shabab.
Addressing the issue in Mogadishu, parliamentarians cautioned the federal government against using force to recover the weapons from civilians.
Lawmaker Malik Abdalla expressed confidence that without the intervention of local residents, these weapons would have fallen into the hands of al-Shabab. “Having helped organize the local clan militia forces (Ma’awisley), I believe these weapons would have been used by al-Shabab, causing serious problems for us. I urge the people of Abudwak to retain possession of the weapons,” said MP Malik Abdalla.
MP Malik also urged the Somali government to take decisive action against those responsible for smuggling weapons into the country. He stressed that while the government focuses on Abudwak residents, those who facilitated the entry of the weapons should be apprehended and prosecuted.
In the Abdudwak district, at least 12 people lost their lives as government troops clashed with local militias over two truckloads of weapons smuggled across the border from Ethiopia. The incident took place in Shiilamaow village, approximately 20 kilometers northwest of Abdudwak district, near the Ethiopian border.
According to the Ministry of Internal Security, government security forces had confiscated the weapons from “illegal arms traders” and were transporting them under escort when armed militias established a checkpoint and intercepted the shipment. Additional clan reinforcements enabled the local militias to overpower government forces, an official added.
While the exact quantity of weapons seized was not disclosed by the Somali government, a security source informed VOA Somali that the haul included two truckloads of DShK and PKM machine guns, AK-47 assault rifles, pistols, and ammunition.
