Prison Guards Block Roads Around Mogadishu Central Prison Over Unpaid Dues

GOOBJOOGF NEWS|MOGADISHU: Members of the Somali Custodial Corps on Thursday blocked key access points around Mogadishu Central Prison and the Banadir Regional Court amid a dispute over unpaid salaries.

Reports from the area indicate that the protesting officers stopped the movement of people and vehicles around the facilities as tensions rose in the vicinity of the Central Prison. Sporadic gunfire was also reportedly heard from some of the disgruntled officers, although there were no immediate reports of casualties.

The officers were recruited nearly a year ago but have reportedly not received salaries since joining the force.

The protest comes as the new commander of the Somali Custodial Corps has begun processing the officers through fingerprint registration, part of procedures intended to formally place them on the government payroll.

It was not immediately clear whether negotiations were underway to end the protest or when the affected officers would receive their outstanding salaries.

The Central Prison and the nearby Banadir Regional Court are among Mogadishu’s key judicial and security facilities, and the blockade disrupted access to the area.