ALSO IN THE NEWS
Somalia: Al-Shabaab Intensifies Attacks on Local Businesses
0
Saturday October 19, 2024 - 03:25:41 in Latest News by Super Admin
- Visits: 194
-
- Share
Two young businessmen were killed and two others injured in Mogadishu's Hodan district on Wednesday, the latest in a series of violent attacks by Al-Shabaab targeting local businesses in the Somali capital.
The broad daylight assassination marks the eighth such killing in two weeks, as Al-Shabaab steps up its campaign against business owners who defy their ban on CCTV cameras.
The local authorities have mandated the installation of surveillance cameras on business premises for security purposes, threatening owners with fines or arrest for non-compliance. However, Al-Shabaab has warned that those who comply will face lethal consequences.
In addition to their anti-CCTV stance, Al-Shabaab also extorts businesses by demanding "zakawat" payments, a form of extortion disguised as religious tax.
Business owners report that the group has extended this scheme across various sectors, and banks as well as hawala companies are reportedly negotiating with the militants over these payments.
One business owner expressed frustration, saying, "We are caught between government pressure and Al-Shabaab's assassinations."
On Wednesday, a group of women gathered outside the Somali-Sudanese hospital where the bodies of the slain businessmen were taken, demanding government intervention.
"The government must protect us or stop issuing orders that put us at risk," said one woman, who requested anonymity for safety reasons. "We don’t know who killed them, but we know they were murdered inside their shop."
Eyewitnesses reported that Al-Shabaab gunmen entered the shop in Zone-K, shooting and killing two businessmen on the spot and injuring two others before fleeing.
"Is CCTV worth risking our lives if the government cannot protect us?" asked another business owner who gave his initials as Hassan.
Just last week, four business owners were murdered in Dayniile, followed by two more killings in Yaaqshiid, adding to the growing fear among the business community.
In August, Al-Shabaab set fire to two major markets on the outskirts of Mogadishu, causing millions of dollars in losses.
Business community leaders believe these attacks were in response to CCTV installations at the shops.
With Al-Shabaab’s extortion expanding and violence on the rise, business owners in Mogadishu are growing increasingly fearful, questioning whether they can continue operating under these mounting threats.
Recent Added Videos
YOUTUBE VIDEOS
| Copyright © 2009 - 2024 Sunatimes News Agency All Rights Reserved. |
| Home | About Us | Diinta | Reports | Latest News | Featured Items | Articles | Suna Radio | Suna TV | Contact Us |
Somalia: Al-Shabaab Intensifies Attacks on Local Businesses
Two young businessmen were killed and two others injured in Mogadishu's Hodan district on Wednesday, the latest in a series of violent attacks by Al-Shabaab targeting local businesses in the Somali capital.