Mogadishu, Somalia – A government-mandated disarmament program got underway Tuesday without much of a bang.
At one designated weapons drop-off point in the Somali capital, bored-looking Ethiopian soldiers milled about with little to do. A second collection site, nestled atop a bluff overlooking the Indian Ocean, closed early because “no one showed up,” according to a Somali government soldier.
The disarmament program is the first major test of Somalia’s transitional government since its troops and Ethiopian allies defeated Islamic fighters and seized control of this capital, a city so awash with guns that most government officials were previously afraid to even visit.
Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gedi on Monday set a three-day deadline for gun collection, threatening to use force after that to pacify the city.
But if Tuesday’s turnout was any indication, the government is facing a steep challenge in persuading Mogadishu residents to part with their weapons. The campaign is also reigniting long- standing clan rivalries and distrust, which are certain to play a big part in the nation’s turnaround.
Ever since the government announced the disarmament program, the streets have been abuzz with debate over whether it will succeed.
Though most support disarmament in theory, those with guns call it a Catch-22 situation: The government wants to round up weapons before dispatching more soldiers in the capital, while residents don’t want to give up their guns until they’re assured that troops can keep the peace.
Others cited financial considerations. Assault rifles and machine guns in Mogadishu range from several hundred dollars to several thousand, representing the largest single asset many families own. For thousands of young men, carrying a gun and working as a militia member or security guard are the only job prospects available. But the government is not offering cash in exchange for the guns.
As a result, prices for weapons at Mogadishu’s gun market plummeted in recent days as gun owners rush to sell their weapons rather than give them away to the government. AK-47 assault rifles dropped from $300 to $120.
