President Hassan Sheikh says Government will crack down on illegal Firearms

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has warned that individuals and groups outside the government will not be allowed to possess or carry firearms and ammunition, stressing that weapons held outside state authority will be confiscated.

Speaking amid ongoing efforts to strengthen security and state authority in Somalia, President Hassan Sheikh said the government is the only institution legally authorized to possess firearms and ammunition.

“Only the government has the authority to possess firearms and ammunition. No one else is permitted to carry them,” the president said.

He warned that individuals found carrying weapons outside the law would face government action, including the confiscation of their firearms whenever authorities have the opportunity to do so.

The president said the government would not tolerate unauthorized possession of weapons, underscoring efforts to consolidate the state’s control over firearms and strengthen public security.

His remarks come as Somalia continues efforts to strengthen state institutions and security forces while addressing the proliferation of weapons among non-state actors.

The government has increasingly emphasized the need for greater control over firearms as part of broader efforts to improve security, prevent armed confrontations and reinforce the authority of state institutions across the country.

Mustaqbal