Al-Shabaab Escalates Violence in Mogadishu: A Community Torn Apart

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AXADLE) — In a harrowing incident on the evening of Saturday, August 24, al-Shabaab militants unleashed chaos at the Safa and Marwa markets, located on the fringes of Mogadishu, leaving a path of substantial destruction in their wake.

Using a combination of explosives and incendiary devices, the group inflicted severe damage on both property and goods, sparking fears among local residents.

Conversations with local business representatives revealed staggering financial impacts, with losses estimated to surpass $4 million. “Around 2 a.m., we heard a massive explosion that shook the ground. They say it was a bomb. Then fireballs filled the sky, and gunfire erupted. No one could approach the area,” recounted Abdulkadir, a shopkeeper who witnessed the chaos firsthand.

The Safa and Marwa markets, founded in 2007 amidst the upheaval that displaced over two million residents due to clashes between the Islamic Courts Union and government forces, have been vital to sustaining local commerce.

Despite their plight, shopkeepers chose to describe the turmoil rather than lay blame. “We’ve lost vital documents, including land records for over 300,000 plots,” one owner expressed, illustrating the extent of their losses.

While miraculously, no casualties were reported, businesses now wrestle with the economic repercussions of the attack. The violence comes in the wake of rising tensions linked to a controversial government mandate demanding CCTV installation in local markets.

In retaliation, al-Shabaab issued threats against those who dared comply with government orders. “The pressure was mounting on us. The government issued directives while al-Shabaab countered with threats. It became a nightmare,” shared a shopkeeper who preferred to remain anonymous during an interview with Kaab TV.

A similar disruption occurred in Bakaro market earlier this April, where shopkeepers faced violent backlash for adhering to government surveillance requirements, highlighting the ongoing struggle for security and compliance.

The business landscape of Mogadishu is currently in crisis, grappling with these recent devastations amid new taxes and extortion that have added to their burdens.

Leaders within the business community assert that a government incapable of safeguarding their enterprises should not be demanding taxes from them. The Somali authorities have yet to issue a statement addressing the situation, leaving shopkeepers and citizens in distress as they await further developments.