Somalia’s government continues to face significant challenges in its fight against al-Shabab, which has carried out numerous deadly attacks across the country. The conflict has displaced thousands and hindered efforts to stabilize the nation.
The problem is still worse in the areas under South West administration whereby the Al Shabaab group has created havoc.
A businessman by the name Ali Osman speaking on the situation said , ” I used to work in the transportation business, mainly transporting goods to and fro in dinsoor district of Somalia. The biggest problem is for us as businessmen who are from Dinsoor, in the southwest administration of Somalia. The al-Shabaab group has been operating in the area for a long time.
There is no end in sight against the fight and nothing can be done about the al-Shabaab group, which is fighting a religious war in Somalia.
Usually we encountered many problems while transporting goods such as foodstuff because of the exorbitant taxes imposed on us by the group which in turn meant increased charges on transportation of goods but worst of all they would arrest us on trumped up charges accusing us of being spies for the Somali government.
The group constantly harassed and robbed the small scale traders and even at times kidnapped them and burned their shops. One of the businessmen of Dinsoor district, Mohamed Abdi Dahir, was a businessman who was our client and I even owed him a loan. Al Shabaab harassed him on a daily basis but he decided to escape the torment and no one knows of his whereabouts until to date. In response the armed group killed his father and brothers.
Thousands of people fled from the area. They are usually harassed and harmed by the al-Shabaab group, mostly businessmen,and the few businesses that remained have closed their doors to excessive taxes and constant threats, the major of which is the been spying for the government.Alhamdulillah I am now in Ethiopia and I escaped from those men and they took my car and my belongings. They arrested me they wanted to try me on trumped up charges which meant that if they found me guilty they would kill me but i luckily managed to escape from their prison.
By Businessman. Ali Osman
