MOGADISHU, Somalia – Al-Shabaab militants have escalated their violence against civilians in Mogadishu, specifically targeting businesses and individuals who have adhered to the Somali government’s directive to install CCTV cameras.
This mandate, part of an urban security push, has triggered a fierce response from the extremist group, illustrating the precarious balance between security enhancements and civilian safety in Somalia’s capital.
Since October 2024, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) has documented 23 political violence incidents in Mogadishu, leading to 37 deaths. Approximately 40% of these incidents are associated with Al-Shabaab’s reprisals against the installation of surveillance cameras.
These attacks have significantly disrupted several neighborhoods, causing markets in the Yaqshid and Heliwa districts to close due to threats of violence.
“Al-Shabaab is sending a brutal message: cooperate with the authorities, and you become a target,” stated Hassan Ali, a security analyst based in Mogadishu. On October 28, four businessmen were killed in the Misaanka Dhuhusha neighborhood, followed by the deaths of two civilians in Sarkuus weeks later.
Local business owners are now caught between compliance with government mandates and facing the lethal consequences of Al-Shabaab’s retaliation.
The government’s CCTV initiative, which began in 2023, was designed to reduce Al-Shabaab’s sway by revealing their extortion schemes and operational tactics. The group is known for extracting monthly “taxes” from businesses to finance their insurgency.
