By Zakaria Hassan - Reporter
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Somalia, 8 June 2026 – Banadir Regional Police Commander Mahdi Omar Mumin said police found illegal weapons inside Mogadishu’s Elite Hotel, as operation targeting unlicensed arms continued in the capital.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mumin said the weapons were recovered from what he described as a secured room inside the hotel. He said the items included drones, sniper equipment, PKM machine guns and AK-style rifles.
Mumin said the room was initially believed to be difficult to access, but was later opened after hotel management handed over the key. He said elders were present when the weapons were removed.
The police commander said commercial facilities, including hotels, must not be used to store illegal weapons.
“Illegal weapons cannot be kept inside business premises, whether a commercial site or a hotel,” Mumin said.
He said only legally registered weapons were permitted and urged officers and officials to list any weapons kept in their homes.
Mumin said the operation to clear illegal weapons from Mogadishu would continue, adding that security forces would not allow armed groups or individuals to threaten the capital’s stability.
His remarks come before the owner of Elite Hotel, former security minister Abdullahi Mohamed Nur, accused authorities of illegally occupying the hotel, damaging property and looting items.