Mogadishu, SOMALIA – The Deputy Governor of Banadir (Mogadishu), Mohamed Ahmed Diriye “Yabooh,” has issued a stern warning to businessmen against removing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, stating that such actions are unacceptable. The warning comes in the wake of a spate of targeted killings by Al-Shabab, which has claimed the lives of businessmen in Mogadishu for complying with the government’s directive to install CCTV cameras as part of efforts to enhance security in the city.
The Deputy Governor’s warning, however, has been met with a mixture of anger and disbelief by many in the business community, who feel that they have been left to fend for themselves in the face of Al-Shabab’s terror campaign. The government’s apparent inability to protect its citizens or bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice has left many businessmen feeling trapped between the demands of the authorities and the deadly threats of the militant group, with no clear path forward.
The Al-Shabab Campaign Against CCTV Installations
The Deputy Governor Yabooh’s warning to businessmen comes amidst a sustained campaign by Al-Shabab against businesses that have installed CCTV cameras in compliance with the government’s security measures. The militant group has not only targeted individual businessmen for assassination but has also carried out bombings and other attacks on businesses that have installed the cameras, sowing fear and chaos in the process.
In recent weeks, Al-Shabab has claimed the lives of four businessmen in Mogadishu for installing CCTV cameras, including three in a single day in the city’s northwest suburb of Dayniile and another in the northeast district of Suqa Holaha. These killings are part of a broader campaign that has targeted businesses in several areas of the city, including Bakara, Elasha Biyaha, and Tabelaha Sheikh Ibrahim, underscoring the group’s determination to undermine the government’s authority and maintain its grip on the population.
The Al-Shabab campaign against CCTV installations has not only created a climate of fear and insecurity among the business community but has also exposed the glaring vulnerabilities in the city’s security apparatus. The ease with which the militant group has been able to carry out these attacks, often in broad daylight and in areas supposedly under government control, has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the authorities’ counter-terrorism strategies and their ability to protect the lives and property of their citizens.
The Government’s Inaction
Against this backdrop of terror and bloodshed, the Deputy Governor’s warning to businessmen against removing CCTV cameras has been seen by many as a tone-deaf and insensitive response to a crisis that demands urgent and decisive action from the authorities. The government’s failure to protect its citizens from Al-Shabab’s attacks or to bring the perpetrators to justice has left many businessmen feeling abandoned and betrayed, with no clear recourse or support from the state.
The Mogadishu government’s inaction in the face of the Al-Shabab campaign against CCTV installations is not only a moral failing but also a strategic blunder that risks undermining the very security measures it seeks to enforce. By failing to provide adequate protection to businesses that comply with its directives or to hold those responsible for attacks accountable, the government is effectively incentivizing non-compliance and eroding public trust in its ability to maintain order and stability.
Moreover, the government’s apparent prioritization of CCTV installations over the safety and security of its citizens has raised questions about its priorities and its understanding of the realities on the ground. While the use of surveillance technology can undoubtedly play a role in enhancing security, it is not a panacea and cannot substitute for a comprehensive and effective counter-terrorism strategy that addresses the root causes of violence and extremism.
The Mogadishu government’s failure to protect and serve its citizens in the face of the Al-Shabab threat is a missed opportunity to build a more resilient and cohesive society. By neglecting the needs and concerns of the business community and other vulnerable groups, the authorities risk alienating key stakeholders and undermining the very foundations of the state.
