Mogadishu Authorities Ban Wearing of Masks, Caps, Citing Security Concerns

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The Banadir Regional Authority has banned wearing of masks and carrying weapons in public transport within the capital, Mogadishu.

Regional Authority’s Spokesman Salah Dheere said that the government took the step due to security concerns saying that wearing of masks was being used to hide identity and facilitate criminal activities.

The authority also outlawed wearing of hats but exempted the traditional sunnah hats worn by elders from the ban.

“Since there is no longer an outbreak of Covid-19 in the country which prompted people to wear masks, going forward wearing a mask will be viewed as an attempt to disguise yourself to avoid detection by security forces…as such it is illegal from today. It is also illegal to wear a cap which is often viewed as an attempt to hide. The directive on caps does not include religious caps,” the Spokesman said.

The decision was made during a recent security meeting in Mogadishu, chaired by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Last year, Somalia’s security agencies urged the businesses in Mogadishu to install security cameras as a way of curbing insecurity within the capital.

However, some of the shop owners said they later received anonymous calls from people claiming to be from al-Shabab, who warned them against the installations.

The militants reportedly feared the cameras would help security agencies identify Al-Shabab members.