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Mogadishu night patrol

Security forces from Nigeria and Uganda have been helping Somali forces to oust al-Shabab fighters from the capital.

A convoy of AMISOM Formed Police Units (FPU) in armoured vehicles leave the national stadium to rendezvous with their Somali counterparts for a late night patrol in Mogadishu. 
By Will Swanson
Published On 28 Aug 2013

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Mogadishu, Somalia – In 2011 African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces largely pushed out the armed group al-Shabab from Somalia’s capital city of Mogadishu. Since then, police units from Nigeria and Uganda have been attempting to train and equip the fledgling Somali Police Force (SPF) in securing the capital city. Part of this effort has been conducting nightly joint patrols with the SPF. These patrols, and the recent introduction of solar powered lights onto the city’s main streets, have helped allow businesses to reopen, enabling civilians to move more freely after dark.

However, the threat of al-Shabab is still apparent in Mogadishu, with regular bomb and IED attacks an indicator of the challenges that AMISOM and the fledgling government face in securing the capital. On this particular evening, a local police station was attacked with small arms fire just 30 minutes after the night patrol had passed by. The perpetrators fled before police could mount a significant response.

At one point during the patrol, vehicles passed freely through checkpoints as local police sat around chatting and sleeping, some chewing the stimulant khat while on duty. “It’s cold at night and we have to stay awake,” said one Somali police officer. “I chew khat to stay warm while we’re working.”

When questioned about the competency of their SPF counterparts Nigerian Assistant Superintendent of Police Ahmed Usman replied, “They are the ones responsible for security, searching cars and civilians. All we can do is provide them cover.”

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The solar lights that now line the streets have also been the target of two separate bomb attacks by al-Shabab in July and August, the latter resulting in minor injuries. “They hate the lights as it hampers their activities,” said one AMISOM police officer. The insurgent group see lights as a threat to their operations in the capital which are now largely prepared under the cover of night. 

On this evening the AMISOM police were optimistic about the impact night patrols were having in Mogadishu. Illuminated by the solar lights, women fetched water, men chattered outside their shopfronts and boys played football in the dusty streets, activities previously unseen after dark just nine months ago.

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Since August 2012 police units from seven contributing African Union countries have been tasked with the job of assisting the Somali Police Force to secure Mogadishu.
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Like many other teenagers across the world, young Somalis play street football in the cool of the evening. Watching or playing football was banned while much of the city was under control of the armed group al-Shabab.
As well as military peace enforcement operations, the AMISOM mission includes police units from Uganda and Nigera. 
Members of the Somali Police Force visit a local shop at Terburka junction.
Nigerian AMISOM FPU officers stand next to their armoured patrol vehicle on night patrol in Mogadishu. 
The advent of solar lights has made it easier for both civilians and police to move about the city safely at night.
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Nigerian police officer Assistant Superintendent of Police Ahmed Usman meets with SPF liason officer Lieutentant Abdi Anod at a temporary checkpoint while on patrol.
Solar powered street lights have been important in restoring security in Mogadishu and activities such as fetching water can now be done more safely after dark. 
Along with roving night patrols, police units establish sniper and observation positions in critical junctions throughout the city to monitor movements of al-Shabab operatives
In stark contrast to the Casspir IED resistant vehicles of the AMISOM forces, local police units move about the city in unarmoured pick up trucks.
A police officer sleeps in the back of a pickup truck during a night patrol in Mogadishu. Some local police chew the stimulant khat which can also have side effects.
 Local clan ties and family relationships between police officers and their communities play a major role in local SPF efforts to police Mogadishu(***)s various districts
A Nigerian AMISOM police officer pauses while on night patrol in Mogadishu. Many AMISOM police have participated in fights against local insurgents such as Boko Haram in their own country.