Illegal roadblock clearance operation launched

The newly formed armed forces of the Transitional National Government (TNG) of Somalia have launched an operation to clear illegal roadblocks from the main Kismayo-Mogadishu road, a senior military official told IRIN. The operation had begun on Monday at Haraf, 13 km south of Mogadishu, Gen Isma'il Qasim Naji, the chief-of-staff, said. "The operation has as of today cleared 17 roadblocks from Haraf to Barawe, 210 km south of Mogadishu," he said, adding that the security forces had so far arrested 35, killed four and wounded eight freelance militia manning the roadblocks. The Kismayo-Mogadishu road had become very dangerous of late, with increased banditry and extortion of travellers by the militia, Abdishakur Shaykh, a Barawe businessman, told IRIN. He said that the residents of the Lower Shabelle Region welcomed the operation to clean up the area. "I hope it is not just a one-time thing, but a sustained operation," he said. Naji said the TNG armed forces would set up "a permanent operation centre in Barawe" to ensure that the militias "get the message that we are here to stay, and will not tolerate them coming back". "We are starting a new operation today to clear the Barawe-Jilib part of the road," said the general. "Our aim is to clear all the roadblocks from the 500-km stretch between Mogadishu and Kismayo." This operation was likely take two to three weeks, Naji said. Somali political sources told IRIN that the operation was a prelude to the TNG's setting up regional administrations in areas where it enjoyed support. "It would not surprise me if you see senior government officials, including the president, moving about the regions within the next month or so," said one.