Militias in central Somalia are being encouraged to disarm and join the police.

Over the past two decades, the Galmudug region has been overrun by various militias, including pirates, al-Shabab militants and the moderate Islamist Ahlu Sunna wal Jama'a group.

“We are training those clan militias, who will be registered as police officers to protect their people,” Galmudug state President Ahmed Abdi Kariye, popularly known as Qor-Qor, told the BBC Somali Service

Mr Kariye is a close ally of the federal government and was elected in a disputed regional poll in early February.

Since then, he has managed to reconcile with the opposition and has nominated an all-inclusive cabinet, which has enabled him to focus on development and security.