President warns against illegal checkpoints

Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has repeated that the illegal checkpoints cannot be accepted again at all in government controlled areas.

Speaking during his visit to Afgooye, Farmaajo said that his government will not tolerate troops mounting illegal checkpoints.

“Henceforth, whoever found mounting illegal checkpoints on roads will not be part of us, we will jointly fight against those snatching money from the public. There will be nobody in SNA clad robbing the public, we are going to give our soldiers their rights and pay their wages, we are ready for that,” said President Farmaajo.

The move comes a time the public transport drivers are complaining of new illegal checkpoints mounted by government soldiers between Mogadishu and Afgooye in which they ask for money.

 Somali president also visited frontline positions west of Afgoye town, to boost morale of the Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers as part of military buildup in Lower Shabelle.

The president’s visits to towns are aimed to build trust and moral to the citizens and the national security forces.

He made similar visits to Baidoa town two weeks ago.