Banadir police display weapons seized from former president-linked residence
Mahdi accused opposition groups of stockpiling the weapons as part of efforts to undermine security in Mogadishu.
Sunday June 7, 2026
Mogadishu (AX) — Banadir regional police on Saturday showcased a cache of weapons and military vehicles they said were recovered from Mirinaayo neighborhood in Abdiaziz district, where former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed had recently been staying.
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Banadir Regional Police Commander Col. Mahdi Omar Mumin told reporters the haul included 17 BKM machine guns, five RPG launchers, one sniper rifle, one PTM, 14 vehicles, an undisclosed number of AK-47 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition.
Mahdi accused opposition groups of stockpiling the weapons as part of efforts to undermine security in Mogadishu.
“It was time to end the use of illegal weapons,” he said, noting that the federal government had decided to gather unauthorized arms in the capital.
The police commander said authorities had earlier confiscated other weapons he said were tied to forces loyal to former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire.
He added that the campaign to recover illegal weapons would continue and urged people and groups still holding unauthorized arms to turn them in voluntarily.
Mahdi also issued a warning to security officers and soldiers accused of aligning themselves with opposition groups, saying anyone found to be involved in organizing insecurity or attacking government institutions would face prosecution and be brought before the courts.
He called on political parties to pursue grievances through peaceful and lawful channels.
The weapons display followed several tense days in Mogadishu marked by armed clashes between government forces and opposition-aligned groups. The violence, which started near Dabka junction, spread across multiple districts and displaced thousands of families before subsiding.
Opposition leaders have accused the federal government of using security operations to stifle political dissent and peaceful demonstrations. Federal officials, meanwhile, say the measures are necessary to restore order, remove illegal weapons and prevent armed groups from destabilizing the capital.
