El Dher residents flee after al-Shabaab imposes hefty tax demand

Residents are fleeing El Dher after al-Shabaab ordered them to collect $100,000 to support the group's activities. Above, a pastoralist Somali man collects water for his herd of camels in Dhobley in August 2011. [Phil Moore/AFP]

By Osman Mohamud
Friday, March 07, 2014

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A sense of collective fear has overtaken Galgadud's El Dher district after residents and elders failed to fulfil an al-Shabaab order to raise $100,000 for the group's activities, residents told Sabahi.

Al-Shabaab issued the order February 10th during a public gathering in which the group threatened residents and elders to pay "a ransom as if they were hostages", said El Dher District Commissioner Hussein Mohamed Abdi.

"Al-Shabaab told the public: 'You must collect money among yourselves to pay $100,000 and take part in the battles we are engaged in if you want to live in peace,'" he told Sabahi.

The group had given residents, who are mostly pastoralists, until February 28th to come up with the huge sum. When it became apparent that people were unable to pay the amount and fleeing the area, al-Shabaab began chasing them down and stealing their livestock, Abdi told Sabahi.

"People were forced to flee when al-Shabaab found out that [elders] who were supposed to collect the money [were unsuccessful]," he said. "Al-Shabaab has now taken vehicles and gone to the rural areas in El Dher to rob citizens of their livestock since they were unable to get anything in the town."

Abdi, who has been based in Dhusamareb district, 175 kilometres west from El Dher, since al-Shabaab took control of the area in 2010, assured the residents of El Dher that the government is working on a plan to liberate them from the militants.

On February 11th, African Union Mission in Somalia troops alongside Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa forces arrived in Galagdud's Guriel district in preparation for operations to free al-Shabaab held territories in the region, including the El Dher, Galhareri and El Bur districts.

Residents on the run

El Dher resident Anab Hassan, a 39-year-old mother of seven, confirmed that al-Shabaab ordered them to collect $100,000.

"I do not want to tell you anything more than that because I am afraid for my life," she said. "Those who could have fled the town. The only people now remaining are women and children who are living in fear. Our elders and men are hiding in the rural areas from the persecution of al-Shabaab."

She called on the Somali government to help liberate them from al-Shabaab's oppressive rule.

Mohamud Farah, a 51-year-old traditional elder from El Dher, told Sabahi that he fled the district February 11th, a day after al-Shabaab issued its order.

"All praise to God who saved me from the persecution of al-Shabaab," he said. "They have forced us to collect a lot of money from poor civilians. I was one of the El Dher elders whom they forced to collect the money. I have now heard that my friends, the other elders, have fled the town and are hiding in remote areas."

Farah said he spent two days walking and hiding until he came across a vehicle transporting a sick individual to Dhusamareb town, and he hitched a ride there.

Abdiqasim Abdinasir, 35, said he would like to leave El Dher as well, but that is not an option for him at the moment as he is looking after his sick father.

"Only very few people are left now, most of the town is deserted, but I am forced by circumstances to stay here because I look after my sick and old father here and I cannot flee and leave him," Abdinasir told Sabahi.

"We do not have the money al-Shabaab is demanding, but until it is raised we have to pretend we approve [of them], otherwise we could have big problems," he said. "However, I do not think we will be able to pay $100,000 even if al-Shabaab said to collect it over several months."

This is not the first time al-Shabaab has used questionable means to raise money. The group has previously engaged in illegal activities including stealing livestock, kidnapping elders, trading charcoal,using zakat money raised for the needy and even selling hyena meat in order to raise funds for their activities.

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