Somali Police Complain of Lack of Resources to Search Enough Vehicles for Bombs

Checkpoints continue to be a mainstay in Mogadishu

A Somali police officer is warned on his walkie-talkie that a suspicious car is approaching in the pitch darkness. Alerted, police at the partially-lit checkpoint immediately stop incoming cars, frisk passengers and search for explosives.

However, some cars had already passed through unrestricted and tension spreads among the jittery soldiers, who are chewing khat, leaves that are stimulants. They say they don't want a bomb-laden vehicle to pass through their check-point and then explode in Mogadishu.