Armed Presence and Vehicle License Plates

Behind the News

By Mohamed Wadaa

According to recent reports, the Committee for Clearing the Capital of Military Formations, Joint Forces, and Collecting Weapons held its fifth meeting, chaired by Lieutenant General Abdulmahmoud Hamad Hussein, Deputy Chief of Staff for Training and Deputy Head of the Committee, with the participation of all members and commanders of the forces subject to the evacuation order.

The meeting discussed practical arrangements for implementing Sovereignty Council Decree No. (153) on removing military presence from the capital. Commanders affirmed their full commitment to carrying out the decision and relocating their forces to the designated camps and agreed-upon locations. They also declared that they would bear no responsibility for any presence of armed units after the expiration of the agreed deadline, stressing that security agencies would act decisively against any armed manifestations thereafter.

Lieutenant General Abdulmahmoud Hamad reiterated that enforcing the Sovereignty Council’s decision aims to restore civilian life across the capital’s districts and enable citizens to return to their neighborhoods and homes in a safe and stable environment.

Police Brigadier Fathalrahman Mohamed Al-Toum, official police spokesperson and head of the Committee’s media team, stated that all subcommittees are continuing to implement approved plans to strengthen security, enforce the authority of the state, and ensure the delivery of public services.

The significance of this development lies in the fact that one of the most pressing current security threats in the capital is the intimidation of civilians through the display of firearms, often accompanied by armed robberies and assaults that have claimed lives. Among returnees to the city, the primary source of frustration is not the lack of water or electricity, but rather the absence of adequate security. Many believe that the right to bear arms should be restricted solely to official patrols and police forces.

Compounding the problem is the movement of some armed individuals in unlicensed vehicles, in violation of Sovereignty Council Decree No. (108), which prohibits the operation of any vehicle without license plates. Some plates may have been obtained illegally; others are found discarded on streets or at impound lots for stolen or abandoned vehicles. There have been thousands of reported cases of stolen or missing license plates.

For the decision to have its intended impact, authorities must ensure that a vehicle’s registration matches its license plate and driver’s license. Currently, hundreds—possibly thousands—of vehicles still move within and between cities without plates. This problem extends to motorcycles, three-wheelers, and tuk-tuks.

Enforcing these measures is not merely about compliance with Sovereignty Council decrees—it is about upholding the law. Strict adherence, particularly by official agencies, would boost public confidence in security conditions and encourage voluntary return of citizens to their homes in both urban and rural areas.