In quest of economic gain, Al-Shabaab and ISIS eye Mogadishu business

ISIS, like al-Shabaab, has no physical presence and military bases in southern Somalia with no single town under its control, and yet it stays to extort money from businesses using threats through phone calls.

News Keydmedia Online
1 February 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Al-Shabaab, and ISIS are increasingly rivals on the Somalia stage, competing over resources, and influence in the long-chaotic Horn of Africa country, where millions are facing drought and conflict.

The rivalry between the two terrorist groups has become a reality in the capital, Mogadishu after imposing skyrocketing extort tax on the businesses in Bakara, the country’s largest air-open market.

The market was closed for three days last week after ISIS demanded an estimated $ 20,000 to $ 40,000 from major businesses, which used to pay double taxes, to the government and Al-Shabaab.

Last Saturday, Somali police has forced the traders to reopen their businesses at gunpoint without giving attention to the ISIS threat, which is putting their lives at risk and could face targeted murder.

ISIS has previously blown-up corporate headquarters in the Bakara market since 2018 and killed several private telecommunications workers after refusing to pay millions of U.S. dollars in form of extortion.

ISIS, like al-Shabaab, has no physical presence and military bases in southern Somalia with no single town under its control, and yet it stays to extort money from businesses using threats through phone calls.

Keydmedia has learned that Al-Shabaab collects between $ 15 million and $ 27 million per month from Mogadishu business and real estate sector as tax. The weak Somali government failed to deal with this.

Al-Shabaab was ousted from Mogadishu in 2011 by SNA and AMISOM, but the group is still able to carry out bombings and assassinations in the seaside city, taking advantage of the lax security.

KEYDMEDIA English