Saturday November 30, 2024
A CCTV camera being cleaned in a Mogadishu business, part of a government effort to enhance security through surveillance
Mogadishu (HOL) — Al-Shabaab militants have intensified their attacks against civilians in Mogadishu, targeting businesses and individuals complying with the Somali government's directive to install CCTV cameras. The mandate, part of a broader urban security initiative, has provoked a violent backlash from the extremist group, underscoring the fragile balance between security measures and civilian safety in Somalia's capital.
Since October 2024, ACLED has recorded 23 political violence incidents in Mogadishu, resulting in 37 fatalities. Nearly 40% of these incidents were linked to Al-Shabaab's retaliation against CCTV installations. The attacks have paralyzed key neighbourhoods, with markets in Yaqshid and Heliwa districts shuttering under threats of violence.
"Al-Shabaab is sending a brutal message: cooperate with the authorities, and you become a target," said Hassan Ali, a Mogadishu-based security analyst. On October 28, four businessmen were gunned down in the Misaanka Dhuhusha neighbourhood, and two civilians were killed weeks later in Sarkuus. Business owners now face an agonizing dilemma—comply with government orders or risk becoming targets of Al-Shabaab's wrath.
The government's surveillance initiative, launched in 2023, aims to curb Al-Shabaab's influence by exposing its extortion networks and operational movements. The group reportedly collects monthly "taxes" from businesses, funnelling funds into their insurgency.
"We're caught between the government's orders and the militants' threats," said a shop owner who requested anonymity. "Our livelihoods and lives are at stake."
While Mogadishu endures heightened violence, Somali security forces have achieved notable victories against Al-Shabaab's leadership. Targeted operations in November eliminated 19 militants, including senior commanders, in Middle Shabelle's Yaqla village. Earlier in October, security forces neutralized mid-level leaders near Kismayo, disrupting key militant activities.
General Odowaa Yusuf Rageh, recently reinstated as the chief of the Somali National Army (SNA), vowed to intensify the fight against Al-Shabaab. His return comes as Somali forces prepare to take full control from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), slated to withdraw by December.
"These operations demonstrate our growing capability to dismantle Al-Shabaab's networks," General Rageh said.
Beyond the insurgency, Somalia faces political discord. In Jubaland, the re-election of President Ahmed Mohamed Islam "Madobe" through an indirect voting system has sparked tensions with the federal government, which advocates for universal suffrage. Clashes between federal and regional forces in Ras Kamboni have heightened fears of further destabilization.
Meanwhile, Somaliland conducted peaceful direct presidential elections on November 13, marking a stark contrast. Waddani party candidate Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi "Irro" secured a decisive victory, though elections excluded contested regions like Sool and Sanaag, underscoring ongoing territorial disputes.
ACLED's data reveals the magnitude of Somalia's challenges, with 306 political violence events and 579 fatalities recorded between October and November.
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