Tensions Rise at Port of Mogadishu After Police Commander’s Dismissal Sparks Drug Allegations

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The Port of Mogadishu is facing a tense situation marked by security and administrative challenges, following the emergence of a serious dispute between the port’s senior management and police units operating at the facility.

The standoff escalated after the dismissal of the Port Police Commander, who had been in office for less than two months. The dismissed officer has claimed that his removal was linked to his refusal to authorize the release of a suspected narcotics shipment that allegedly passed through the port.

These allegations have raised fresh questions about transparency, accountability, and stability at the Port of Mogadishu. In response, the port’s Director, Mohamed Ali Noor, widely known as “Ameriko,” has strongly defended his administration, insisting that the port is free from drug trafficking and that protecting the public remains a top priority.

Despite these assurances, the dispute appears to have strained cooperation between the port’s civilian management and the security forces responsible for safeguarding one of Somalia’s most critical economic lifelines.

Meanwhile, Somali Police Commissioner Asad Diyano has also come under criticism, with accusations that he sided with port authorities and business interests and moved swiftly to remove the port police commander he had appointed only days earlier.

The developments come at a time when the Port of Mogadishu was expected to strengthen oversight, cargo inspections, and accountability mechanisms. However, allegations of corruption and facilitation of narcotics risk undermining confidence among traders and the wider public unless addressed through a transparent and credible investigation.