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Traffic police in the past few months have resumed their work in the streets in and around Mogadishu where there are no traffic signals or signs to aid motorists.

On Maka al-Mukarama Road, which links the airport to the presidential palace, dozens of traffic police work daily from 7:00 am until 2:00 pm to facilitate traffic flow and compel citizens to respect order and road manners.

The police are also stationed in the streets of Elasha Biyaha and Afgoye, where the Somali army and AMISOM troops regained control two weeks ago. Residents of these areas welcomed their presence after an absence of 21 years.

"Traffic policemen are helping children, the elderly and even students when they cross the street," said Osman Takar Muse, 23, from Afgoye. "The community should provide assistance, even just a nice smile when passing by, as they work under the sun's rays for the convenience of citizens."

Ali Mumin, 43, a taxi driver in Mogadishu, told Sabahi that Somali traffic police are a sign of development in the country. "We have to offer them moral and material support because they are unarmed," he said.

Senior traffic officer Ayuub Wardheere told Sabahi that traffic control helps restore order and apprehend violators who drive recklessly or park illegally.

"We are doing our professional and national duty to restore order to streets devoid of traffic signals, despite the density of vehicles and the increasing number of non-professional drivers in the region after the improvement of the security situation and the return of expatriate Somalis," he said, adding that some of them drive recklessly and too fast through residential neighbourhoods and densely populated areas.

"We monitor and record violations, fulfilling the call of professional and national duty, especially in this difficult stage as Somalia transitions to comprehensive federal rule," Wardheere said.

Bringing reassurance back to Mogadishu streets

Abdinuur Abtidoon, a traffic officer in Mogadishu, told Sabahi that traffic police seize vehicles without license plates or ones that have unclear or distorted letters and numbers, and impound them in the Shangaani neighbourhood of Mogadishu.

Drivers without licences will receive a fine of $25, Abtidoon said.

"Traffic police work in the street [... and] do not pose a threat to any armed organisations, criminal gangs or other groups, [but] targeted killings have become prevalent against them in Somalia today because they are easy targets," Abtidoon said. "People who carry out such acts also want to deliver a message that the transitional government and security services have no clout so long as they are unable to provide adequate protection for all, such as with community security."

Halima Mahmuud Ga'al, 30, a qat vendor in the Hamar Weyne neighbourhood of Mogadishu, said traffic police have brought reassurance back to the streets of the city, even though they do not have guns to defend themselves from al-Shabaab attacks.

Director of the General Traffic Directorate Ali Hirsi Barre said the directorate has asked the Somali Transitional Federal Government and the international community to provide cars and motorcycles so police can pursue offenders, impose fines, revoke licenses and confiscate unregistered cars.

"Motorists must adhere to road laws and not use horns near hospitals, the presidential palace or places of assembly, except in emergencies, and must reduce speed in the presence of children and students, and at intersections," he said.

Barre called on the relevant authorities to repair roads and install traffic signals to make them safer. He also said the directorate intends to restructure Somali licence plates to facilitate identification and differentiate taxis from privately-owned vehicles. "We need to number cars with plates of different colours, including white, yellow and red," he said.