In Pictures

In Pictures: Mogadishu boosts security

Safety improves in Somalia’s once war-torn capital despite recent attack and ongoing threats of violence.

The Somali National Army and Somali National Police are taking on a more prominent role in maintaining a relative peace in Mogadishu, increasingly taking over tasks that were performed by African Union (AMISOM) forces.

19 Apr 2013

The landscape of Mogadishu, Somalia’s once war-torn capital, has changed. Two years ago, the armed hardline group al-Shabab controlled much of the city, and open warfare raged between their members and African Union (AMISOM) troops.

The were largely ousted from the city in August 2011, which marked an end to hostilities in the city. Since then, investment has led to development, and a relative sense of normality has returned to the city.

The environment is now “post-conflict”, but an insurgency is still being fought across the city, with regular blasts and assassinations. Last Sunday, a series of coordinated bombings and shootings claimed by al-Shabab killed at least 30 people in the capital. Although the group has officially left Mogadishu, it still remains a potent threat, inspiring fear and insecurity.

The pace of development has been matched by the growth of a fleet of private, armed security officers who now stand guard outside hotels and restaurants.

African Union forces still patrol the city, but are devolving many of their tasks to the Somali National Police. At the same time, AMISOM are training the Somali National Army (SNA), who are now taking a more prominent role in combat operations outside of the city, as well as maintaining security in the capital.

The Somali National Army (SNA), once little more than a militia, is becoming more professional and disciplined. Here, SNA recruits go through an assault drill during a training by SNA and AMISOM officers.

The SNA is still poorly equipped, however, as a result of the United Nations arms embargo, which was put in place when war in Somalia broke out.

A UN resolution has eased the embargo, which would allow the Somali government to acquire light weapons such as automatic assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.

For many of Mogadishu(***)s residents, life is still precarious, with dozens of camps for the internally displaced dotted around the city.

Security in the city is still a concern, with armed policemen patrolling the streets, and foreign visitors requiring private security to move around.

Bathers have returned to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, but a famous beach-side cafe still requires private security. Bombs have rocked Mogadishu over the past year, and the Lido Seafood restaurant was targeted in February.

The increase in security has allowed for economic investment and development. Prior to al-Shabab(***)s ousting, an informal 4:00pm curfew existed. Life now goes on in the city until the evening.

The task of maintaining security in the city has largely fallen to the Somali National Police (SNP), who receive support from AMISOM police.

The SNP administer checkpoints at night, in an attempt to prevent the circulation of the weapons and car-bombs that still plague the city.

Vehicles circulating at night are searched at the checkpoints, along with their passengers. Pedestrians are asked to lift their shirts to ensure that they are not concealing suicide-bomb vests.

As the evening goes on, the city becomes ghostly, with little circulation and very few people except police walking the streets.

In addition to the training of the SNA, private security firms are training AMISOM troops in advanced weapons techniques. Here, a group of Ugandan and Burundian troops are trained in the use of American M-24 sniper rifles.

A Somali policeman stands with an AMISOM police officer in an outlying district of the capital at midnight. A new dawn is arriving in the city.