Thread by @AhmedAbdihadi

I met young business man in Mogadishu who gave me insight on how Alshabab extort money from business community.
He showed me text message in which he was sent by the Waliya of Banadir region. In the message, he was asked to come to Mubarka village of lower Shebelle.

To go Mubark you can have 2 option: You go by yourself or they sent you car which you rent it $70. The car will collect you whereever you are in Mogadishu.

He said you pass through many checkpoints along the way manned by the government. But usally no one ask you a question.

When you arrive at Mubarak Village, there is a hotels with price of $4 per night. There, you will be asked to disclose the value of your business. If you lie, they will show you their information about your business. Particualry if you import they will show your bill of lading.

Now, on calcuations based on your business values they will ask you certain amount of money.
When you finish with that office, again you will go to Zaka office and then you pay the annual zaka.

I asked him who gives them the bill of lading. He answerd the shipping companies.

Why? I asked him!
He said Alshabab tried to tax shipping companies cargos per container. But shipping companies said we only tranport the cargo we do not own the cargo. Then Alshabab asked them to provide the details of each ship bill of ladings.

Shipping campanies snubbed the request at first but later could not resist Alshab threats.

He provided me examples of businessmen who snubbed Alshabab orders. Including Sahafi Hotel owner who was killed by Alshabab. Later his son honored his father And Did not pay to Alshabab. He was also killed, too.
Mr Gurey, the owner of Makkamukarma Hotel is onother example.

He rejected to pay for Alshabab but his hotel was destoryed many times.

Now, as Ashabab collects millions from businessed he said now they are commisioning non Alshabab people to provide them information about new business.

#Somalia