The Eastern Revenue Authority has levied new charges on these traders, but the business owners say they cannot afford them and believe the fees are unjust. They also claim that government security forces, especially NISA, are being used to pressure and intimidate them into making the payments.

No government office or special authority has intervened to resolve the traders’ issue; instead, the matter has been met with silence. Meanwhile, the traders say their money is being used to purchase vehicles and build apartment blocks, suggesting that other groups are seeking to profit at their expense.

Some traders who spoke to the media expressed deep frustration and hopelessness over their government’s silence regarding the hardship they face.

The situation in Mogadishu remains tense, and the suffering of the local population has intensified. “The idea of state authority is being used as a tool for coercion,” some Mogadishu residents told the media.

The post Entrepreneurs Betrayed: From Trusting the Nation to Suffering Under State Forces appeared first on Kaab TV.

All major markets in Mogadishu remained closed on Saturday, February 8, as traders staged demonstrations against what they described as unbearable financial burdens and growing insecurity.

In a statement issued on Friday, the business community announced their decision to shut down operations in response to escalating extortion.

All major markets in Mogadishu remained closed today as traders staged a protest against excessive taxation and extortion.

In a statement issued yesterday, the #Mogadishu business community announced their decision to shut down businesses in response to what they described as an… pic.twitter.com/7vcWhZmfdG

— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) February 8, 2025

“The National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) began threatening business owners and forcibly shutting down shops under the pretext of tax collection. Meanwhile, the police issued illegal demands for payments. As a result, we have decided to close our businesses,” the statement read.

The closure has severely impacted key commercial hubs, including Bakara Market, the country’s largest business center, as well as Suuq Bacaad, which remained shut over the weekend.

However, small portions of both markets partially reopened by late Monday, according to Kaab TV reporters who visited the area.

Thousands of daily wage earners and small business owners who depend on these markets for their livelihoods have been affected by the shutdown.

When questioned about the crisis on Saturday, Internal Security Minister General Abdullahi Ismail Fartaag deflected responsibility, stating that the issue should be addressed by the Ministry of Finance.

Meanwhile, Al-Shabaab continues to impose additional levies on businesses in Mogadishu, adding further financial strain on traders who receive no government protection against such extortion.

The post Mogadishu Businesses Strike Over Government and Al-Shabaab Extortion appeared first on Kaab TV.