Somalia : Hirshabelle President Debunks Somali President's Checkpoint Accusations

Hirshabelle, Somalia - President Ali Guudlawe Hussein chaired a recent cabinet meeting in Hirshabelle. Security issues and the upcoming second phase of operations to eradicate Al-Shabaab groups were discussed. The president emphasized the importance of expediting government activities to ensure the region's safety.

President Hussein clarified that the checkpoints in Hirshabelle are under the jurisdiction of the Somali National Army and the Ministry of Defence. The issue of checkpoints has been a recurring topic in previous discussions, but no concrete actions have been taken thus far.

Hussein reassured the public that the people of Hirshabelle were not responsible for establishing illegal checkpoints. Instead, he pointed to specific military forces that have been involved in looting incidents, which have been reported to their command and national leaders.

"There is no civilian that sets up illegal checkpoints. There are no regional government or district level forces that have checkpoints in Hirshabelle," President Hussein stated.

His remarks come in response to recent allegations made by the President of Somalia during a visit to the Hirshabelle region, accusing locals of operating illegal checkpoints on area roads. Hussein's clarification aims to dispel these accusations and focus on the government's efforts to maintain security and eliminate Al-Shabaab threats in the region.

GAROWE ONLINE