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Somali lawmakers commend Abudwak residents for seizing heavy weapons
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    Wednesday July 17, 2024

    Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali lawmakers have commended residents of the Abudwak district in the Galgadud region for seizing two truckloads of weapons on Monday, which they claim were destined for the al-Shabab militant group.

    Speaking in Mogadishu, the parliamentarians warned the federal government against using force to retrieve the weapons from the civilians.

    Lawmaker Malik Abdalla expressed his belief that the weapons would have ended up in al-Shabab's hands if not for the residents' intervention. "As one of the MPs who organized the local clan militia forces (Ma'awisley), I believe these weapons would have gone to al-Shabab and caused problems for us. I urge the people of Abudwak to keep the weapons," said MP Malik Abdalla.

    MP Malik also called on the Somali government to take action against those responsible for bringing the weapons into the country. He emphasized that while the government is focusing on the residents of Abudwak, the individuals who facilitated the entry of the weapons should be arrested and prosecuted.

    At least 12 people were killed in the Abdudwak district as government soldiers and local militias fought over two truckloads of weapons illegally brought over the border from Ethiopia. The incident occurred in Shiilamaow village, about 20 kilometres northwest of Abdudwak district, close to the Ethiopian border.

    The Internal Security Ministry said government security forces had seized the weapons from "illegal weapons traders" and were escorting them when armed militias erected a checkpoint and intercepted the arms. The local militias overpowered government forces after receiving reinforcements from clan members, the official added.

    The Somali government did not disclose the quantity of the weapons, but a security official told VOA Somali that the arms included two truckloads of DshK and PKM machine guns, AK-47 assault rifles, pistols, and ammunition.

     





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