Mareeray resident in Somalia have expressed concerned over increased roadblocks mounted by armed gunmen parading themselves as Somali National Army.
The roadblock have in the recent weeks posed major threats to business people, public transport cars and car-owning civilians who have to pay levies to get through the roadblocks. The levies imposed have contributed to high goods’ prices in major towns especially in Lower Shabelle.
The armed gunmen have been reported to be al Shabaab militants who are devising new and unorthodox ways to raise money for their operations seeing as most of their income generating activities and sources have either depleted or been crippled by the AU troops in Somalia.
The illegal checkpoints have been viewed as to create a security hazard especially for residents who develop fear and mistrust even from the legitimate security forces. residents have called upon the central government to adequately deal with the roadblocks that risk the economy that is only trying to wake up.
The Somali Police force and SNA have however embarked on operations to dismount the roadblock as well as apprehend the perpetrators who have official police uniform in a bid to rescue the economy and stabilize the prices of goods.
The presence of al Shabaab militants in Somalia and the lawlessness that has racked Somalia for over two decades makes the country susceptible to vigilante and illegal armed groups that seek to exploit the general populace and unstable security situation.
