Somalia receives tear gas consignment from Eritrea to contain opposition riots - sources

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Somalia receives tear gas consignment from Eritrea to contain opposition riots - sources

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali Federal Government received the first batch of tear gas consignment imported from Eritrea to contain the opposition riots in the capital, a senior police source told Horn Observer.

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A police officer inspects tuk tuk at the Maka al-Mukarama road in Mogadishu. (PHOTO/FILE).

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) Somali Federal Government received the first batch of tear gas consignment imported from Eritrea to contain the opposition riots in the capital, a senior police source told Horn Observer.

The secret consignment reached Mogadishu on 22 February, three days after a deadly opposition-organized anti-government rally hit the Horn of African country's capital.

On 19 February, opposition protests erupted in the Somali capital, Mogadishu and were interrupted by gunfire by the security forces, heightening a political standoff caused by the government’s refusal to hold elections that were scheduled for two weeks ago.

The New York Times cited United States Embassy in Somalia saying that "as many as 20 people may have been killed or injured” in the morning clashes in Mogadishu which resulted incoming flights to the Mogadishu airport diverted and outbound flights canceled.

TEAR GAS

The impasse over Somalia's delayed election has inflamed tensions among the federal and regional governments and opposition parties. It has also alarmed the international community, with the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and several African countries, urging the parties involved to resolve the electoral issues "in order for credible and inclusive elections to proceed.”

"The use of live bullets and force were met with heavy criticism from the international community. The Farmajo administration was embarrassed. You know the police did not have tear gas or water canon devices. The order was quick and the first consignment arrived on 22 February," the source told Horn Observer.

The arrival of the tear gas was kept to the dark from the public, according to the sources.

An employee at the Mogadishu airport told Horn Observer that a large military aircraft landed on the night of 22 February which delivered unknown consignment.

The revelation emerges ahead of a second anti-government protest planned on 6 March in Mogadishu.

On Wednesday the Council of Presidential Candidates, an opposition group comprising 14 candidates, said they were planning to lead their supporters to march to the streets on Saturday.

In a statement, the Information Ministry said the government has agreed with the opposition leaders that the opposition protests be held on schedule.

"The opposition rally will take place on Saturday as scheduled. This will be huge one with many supporters from across the corners of the capital," said Abdirahman Odowa, an opposition Member of the Somali Federal Parliament.