Photographer Somali Times
Livestock traders in Mogadishu said that Al-Shabab still extort money from them, which they called poverty and taxes.
Some of these businessmen who spoke to Somali Times, said that Al-Shabab collect the money not far from the Somali presidential palace in Villa Somalia and Bakara market.
The businessmen said that there has been no change in the amount of money they have been charged since the government announced that they will stop paying money to the Al-Shabab terrorists group.
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
They said that when the animals are exported from the ports of Bosaso and Berbera, tax is charged at the Al-Shabab control point in the Buqda area, which is 40 km from the town of Buulo Burde.
They accused the Animal Export Association of making an agreement with Al-Shabab who did not have a letter from their association that they could not export animals from the country.
On the other hand, the livestock export umbrella denied the accusation and said that there is no connection between them and Al-Shabab terrorists group. They also denied that Al-Shabab gave them money.
It was years ago when the government disbanded the Somali truckers’ association, after it was suspected that they had links with Al-Shabab.