Wednesday February 14, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) - The Banadir regional administration has announced a ban on wearing facemasks, which were widely used during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The spokesperson of the Mogadishu administration, Salah Dheere, stated on Wednesday that the decision was made during the recent security meeting in Mogadishu chaired by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Mr. Salah emphasized that wearing facemasks is now considered a way for individuals to conceal their identities from security forces, suggesting that they might harbour criminals who contribute to insecurity in Mogadishu.
Last December, Banadir Regional Police Chief Mahdi Omar Mu'min refuted reports that the Somali government had prohibited people in Mogadishu from wearing face masks, turbans, hats, and face veils to improve the security of the capital.
However, the Mogadishu administration is now stating that facemasks and hats, apart from traditional sunnah hats worn by elders, contribute to security issues.