President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud paid a visit to the Hiil-Weyne camp, which houses National Army men who had recently returned from training in Uganda.
The soldiers, who have military-police training, are meant to help secure Mogadishu and put an end to al-Shabaab activities. The Hiil-Weyne camp is situated between the districts of Mogadishu and Balcad.
During his Friday afternoon visit, the President directed the soldiers to carry out their responsibilities with vigilance, control, security, and peace of mind. He also asked the newly trained soldiers to set a good example for other military in keeping the country peaceful.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud highlighted that the army’s first job is to preserve Somali residents’ safety, dignity, and lives. He ordered the military to maintain discipline and abide with army rules.
The visit comes only hours after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced a ban on carrying guns on the streets of Mogadishu, the country’s capital. The prohibition was proclaimed by the President during a Friday prayers sermon at his presidential complex in Mogadishu.
“We strictly prohibit the carrying of firearms on Mogadishu’s streets. One cannot rationalize mounting machine weapons on cars and deploying rocket-propelled grenades in the streets to protect against a concealed al-Shabab member armed with a pistol “declared the President.