Mogadishu (Somalia Today) — The Somali National Army (SNA) warned against the unauthorized use of military uniforms, insignia, and equipment, announcing a sweeping crackdown to curb unregulated armed groups and fake Somali soldiers in the capital.
In a statement released Friday, October 10, 2025, the army command said anyone caught wearing official military attire or using SNA gear without authorization would face “strict measures in accordance with military regulations and national law.”
The directive bans civilians and non-military personnel from possessing or displaying any official SNA ranks, badges, or symbols.
The order also targets the private sector, prohibiting garages and traders from modifying, repairing, or selling military vehicles and their parts without approval.
“No one is permitted to paint, alter, repair, or sell parts for SNA vehicles without official authorization,” the statement said. The restriction aims to dismantle logistical networks that enable non-state actors to imitate national security forces.
An SNA spokesperson said the measure is crucial to safeguarding the army’s integrity and ensuring a clear distinction between legitimate state forces and private militias.
Tightening security in the capital
The directive comes amid heightened political and security tensions in Mogadishu. Analysts view it as a direct warning to opposition politicians who rely on privately funded security teams, often dressed and equipped like the national army, for personal protection. These forces, frequently organized along clan lines, have become entrenched in Somalia’s political landscape.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration has vowed to tighten control over weapons in the capital. Speaking on October 3, the president criticized politicians driving with heavily armed convoys.
“As the President of this country, I do not use a vehicle mounted with a DShK heavy machine gun. No one else will be permitted to drive through Mogadishu with weapons mounted on their vehicles,” he said.
His comments followed a clash between government forces and militiamen guarding opposition leaders near Warta Nabadda police station, an incident that deepened tensions between the government and its rivals.
Authorities accused the opposition of violating arms control laws and attacking a federal facility.
Armed politics of Somalia
Since the collapse of the central government in 1991, Mogadishu has struggled with the influence of clan-based militias and politically affiliated armed groups. Successive administrations have tried to centralize control over the use of force. Loyalty has often gravitated toward clans or political patrons rather than the state.
International partners have invested in rebuilding the Somali National Army to fight the al-Shabaab insurgency. Yet the persistence of non-state armed groups in the capital continues to undermine stability and governance.
Analysts say President Mohamud’s latest steps aim to dismantle parallel security structures and consolidate federal authority.
The army’s warning may foreshadow more assertive measures, including disarmament or downsizing of security escorts for opposition leaders.
Officials frame the moves as essential for national security and the rule of law. Critics warn they could be used to suppress political dissent.
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