Almost 50 people from all Benadir traditional elders, women groups, youth, militia and religious leaders met at Beder hotel in Mogadishu on 18^th July 2012 and discussed the illegal roadblocks positioned in many parts in Benadir districts, the history of illegal roadblocks, the types of roadblocks, abuses committed in it, causes, risks associated with it and finally they  gave recommendations and agreed on an action plan to remove roadblocks from the capital. 

First of all, the participants acknowledged the improved security situation of Benadir but also expressed concern over the daily increasing illegal roadblocks in the region.  The participants informed that roadblocks started in the end period of the previous military government by the ex military forces and widely spread in the anarchy period. The warring clans and groups established roadblocks for protection and fundraising purposes.

Through the participants’ experience, there are two types of roadblocks inMogadishu1) the regular roadblocks situated in the main roads and 2) ambush attacks. They are interrelated and when one increase, the other decrease. More than 40 roadblocks are positioned in Warshadaha, wadnaha, soddonka, Maka Al Mukarama roads and Madina, dharkaynley and Hamarweyne districts as told by the participants.

In their discussion, the participants disclosed that most of the roadblocks are manned by militiamen dressed the uniform of TFG military forces. They were in the same opinion that illegal roadblocks are biggest risky in Benadir region. Among the violations committed were said to be killing, rape, extortion money and regular fear to the public.

It was also agreed on that illegal roadblocks are caused by widespread unemployment, weak government, lack of full collaboration between the public and the existing administration at district and regional levels and countless unpaid TFG soldiers wandering holding their guns in the streets of the city. They talked about the impact of illegal roadblocks on the society such as inflation, waste of time to the students and labors and constant fear.

The participants recommended the following points:

§         That the public and existing regional and district administrations have close collaboration through establishing various committees from different sectors of the society including women, religious leaders, elders and youth groups and creating neighborhood system in the districts

§          Initiate extensive awareness raising campaign through mosques, radios and personal visits to the militiamen by the elders, women, business people, religious leaders and youths

§         The existing administrations should be pressured to take action against the illegal roadblocks

§         The public should pay tax in order to educate and create jobs for the militiamen

§         The militiamen should be included in the soldiers trained to be part of different TFG security forces

§         The TFG law enforcers should be strengthened to perform their duties of crime prevention and civilian protection

§         TheMogadishupeople led by their traditional leaders should take the headship of campaigns against illegal roadblocks

Finally, the participants decided the following action plan:

1.      Extensive awareness raising campaign on removing the illegal roadblocks will be launched with the participation of different sectors of the society

2.      The different sectors of the society will meet and discuss this issue with regional and district administrations and law enforcers

3.      Another big meeting attended by all stakeholders will be organized and discussed the illegal roadblocks scattered in all parts ofMogadishucity

4.      The report of the achievements will be presented in the next monthly forum

W/D Amiin Yuusuf Khasaaro

E-Mail  amiinkkhasaaro@hotmail.co.uk

E-Mail  amiinkhasaaro@yahoo.co.uk