Illegal roadblocks mount in Sothern Somalia

[Wisdom_Seeker]

Aweys Osman Yusuf

 

Mogadishu 07, March.07 ( Sh.M.Network) Commuters traveling on the road linking the capital Mogadishu to the coastal town of Merca in lower Shabelle province, 100 km south of Mogadishu, have voiced concerns over fresh illegal roadblocks set up by armed militiamen, taking extortion money from the commuting buses.

 

Witnesses have told Shabelle that the militia’s illegal checkpoints begin from Afgoi, 30 km from Mogadishu, to Merca, robbing passengers on buses to and from Merca if the buses fail to pay the extortion money they demand.

 

One of the bus drivers, who asked to remain anonymous in fear of reprisal attacks from the militias, has told Shabelle Wednesday that most buses would halt traveling to Merca. “The armed militiamen setting up roadblocks have increased, so we can no longer work on situation like that,” he said.

 

The news comes as the government promises it would crack down on the militias.

 

On Tuesday, at least 8 mortars fired by the Somali insurgents hit inside Mogadishu international airport, while the first contingents of the AU peacekeepers from Uganda were landing at the airport.

 

Three Military cargo planes from Algeria brought the heavily armed Ugandan troops in Mogadishu.