Somalia bans guns from streets of Mogadishu

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the president of Somalia, leads a demonstration at Banadir Stadium, Mogadishu, on January 12, 2023. [AP photo]

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced Friday that his government has banned people from carrying weapons on the streets of Mogadishu, the country's capital.

"We impose a strict ban on carrying guns in the streets of Mogadishu. One cannot justify having machine guns mounted on vehicles and rocket-propelled grenades in the streets, for protection from a hiding al-Shabab militant armed with a pistol," the president said.