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| Africa Horn |
| Somalia: Warlords lay down weapons |
| 2007-01-18 |
| (SomaliNet) Former warlord, Mohamed Qanyare Afrah Wednesday handed over all his weapons and militiamen to the government – He is the first warlord who laid down his weapons and let his militia join the government. In an occasion held in his base in southwest of the capital Mogadishu, Mr. Qanyare, who is now member of the parliament announced that all the militiamen with their weapons would be at the side of the government. “I am here by declaring that I am handing all my weapons and my militiamen to the transitional government and I promise to work with the federal institutions,” Qanyare said at the ceremony which attended by senior Somalia military officers. A large number of weapons including battlewagons, 30 heavy and light rifles were enlisted to be part the government’s arms. General Naji, Somalia chief army commander, addressed the scene saying it was positive step towards promoting peace and security in Somalia. Today was the deadline of handing over the weapons of the warlords to the interim government. Muse Sudi Yalohow, among the former warlords has also handed his weapons and militia to the government, despite most of Sudi’s arms was taken by the ousted Islamists. Mr. Sudi, MP, argued that he had left some of his weapons in the fiefdoms of Qanyare and Mohamed Dhere, the chairman of Jowhar city, the capital of Middle Shabelle region in Somalia. The handover has taken place in Sudi’s residence in north of Mogadishu, Somalia capital where the government is now working its national duty. The move is part the government’s disarmament program in the capital as the country is under three-month state of emergency which gives the government new sweeping powers. |
| Posted by:Fred |