Mogadishu, SOMALIA – Drivers in Mogadishu have leveled serious accusations against the Banadir Transportation Cooperative, alleging that the organization is collaborating with the terrorist group Al-Shabab. According to the drivers, the Cooperative has been sharing their personal details and income information with Al-Shabab, making it easier for the group to extort taxes from owners of transport vehicles operating in the capital city.
The allegations have have raised concerns about the extent of Al-Shabab’s influence over the city’s economy. The Banadir Transportation Cooperative, which is registered with the government, has denied any wrongdoing and has dismissed the accusations as baseless. However, in 2020, the Cooperative was briefly shut down by the government for similar accusations of working for Al-Shabab. It is not clear when the Cooperative was reinstated.
Drivers’ Allegations
The allegations against the Banadir Transportation Cooperative first surfaced when a group of drivers came forward to share their experiences with the media. The drivers, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisals, claimed that the Cooperative had been collecting their personal information and income data, which was then passed on to Al-Shabab.
According to the drivers, Al-Shabab uses this information to identify and target individuals for extortion. The group allegedly demands a portion of the drivers’ earnings as a form of “tax,” and threatens violence against those who refuse to pay.
Previous Allegations Against the Mogadishu Chamber of Commerce
The allegations against the Banadir Transportation Cooperative are not the first time that a business organization in Mogadishu has been accused of collaborating with Al-Shabab. In 2020, the Mogadishu Chamber of Commerce has also faced similar accusations from businessmen in the city. The Chamber’s chairman and his deputy were then arrested by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA).
According to the businessmen, Al-Shabab had instructed them to work with the Chamber of Commerce, which allegedly reported directly to the terrorist group. The businessmen claimed that the Chamber of Commerce collected information on their activities and finances, which was then used by Al-Shabab to extort money from them.
The allegations against the Chamber of Commerce were never substantiated, and the organization has denied any wrongdoing. However, the fact that similar accusations have now been leveled against the Banadir Transportation Cooperative suggests that there may be a pattern of collaboration between business organizations and Al-Shabab in Mogadishu.
Al-Shabab’s Influence on Mogadishu’s Economy
The allegations against the Banadir Transportation Cooperative and the Mogadishu Chamber of Commerce highlight the significant influence that Al-Shabab continues to wield over the city’s economy, despite ongoing efforts by the government and international partners to combat the group.
Al-Shabab has long relied on extortion and taxation as a means of funding its operations, and has targeted businesses and individuals across a range of sectors, including transportation, telecommunications, and agriculture. The group’s ability to infiltrate and manipulate business organizations is a testament to its deep roots in Somali society and its ability to exploit the country’s weak institutions and governance structures.
The continued penetration of the group’s tax collection apparatus in Mogadishu’s business associations suggests that efforts to curb its extortion efforts have failed. Likewise, it has continued with its attacks on businesses that refused its orders to remove CCTV cameras.
