Al-Shabaab sets homes of Mogadishu farmers on fire

Hundreds of farmers in villages northern Somali capital, Mogadishu, were displaced after the terrorist al-Shabaab movement set their homes on fire, in a new form of violence by the terrorist group.

The displaced farmers and their families experience tough conditions, the official Somali news agency quoted some eyewitnesses as saying.

It said some of the displaced farmers had arrived in nearby cities to search for relief and food aid.

In October 2021, the Hiraal Institute, which specializes in security affairs, said the al-Shabaab terrorists had collected at least $15 million per month, with more than half of that coming from levies and extortion on Mogadishu's residents.

Al-Shabaab controls a large part of southern and central Somalia, but it has also managed to extend its influence in areas controlled by the government in Mogadishu.

Brutality

The Hiraal Institute report describes the brutal way the group takes money from rural residents.

It says villagers pay money to the organization because of fear for their lives and also because of the threats al-Shabaab fighters make.

The report, based on interviews with some al-Shababb fighters, businessmen, government officials and others, says that all major companies provide money, either in the form of monthly payments or an annual charity of 2.5% of their profits.

Food shortages worsened after al-Shabaab forced the United Nations World Food Program to leave Somalia earlier this year.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that about half of the population of Somalia needs assistance and that the country has the highest levels of malnutrition in the world.

ISIS

On the other hand, Somali media referred to talks between traders in the main Bakaro market in Mogadishu and ISIS militants, after parts of the market were closed due to exorbitant royalties imposed on trading companies.

According to the news network, al-Asima, market traders complain that the Somali government has not come up with solutions to them, and that all it did was force the merchants to open their shops without addressing their security concerns.