The government of Somalia has ordered army operating in Lower and Middle regions not to enter the capital Mogadishu without clearance from the commanders.
The army soldiers were also barred from carrying weapons such as PKM, Pick-Up tracks mounted weapons among others to the city.
While addressing a joint media conference in Mogadishu, warned of laxity on arms control in the city. He stressed that the army from the two Shabelle regions will not be allowed to carry out heavy weapons even after clearance from their respective commanders saying it would be a contravention of the Somali cabinet decree of May 2017.
Ugandan Forces –UPDF are responsible for Sector 1, which comprises the regions of Banadir, and Lower Shabelle while Burundian forces are in charge of Sector 5 which covers the Middle Shabelle region.
The government orders follow deadly twin bombing that targeted a presidential palace –Villa Somalia and Doorbin Hotel that left more than 50 people killed. Al-Shabaab propaganda claim to have killed 80.
Subsequently, the government backed by African Union troops have declared an intensified offensive in Mogadishu to flush out Al-Shabaab militants and their sympathizers.
