Al-Shabab Militants Bomb Shops in Mogadishu Over Surveillance Orders

Mogadishu, (Idilnews) — Militants believed to be members of the Al-Shabab group detonated explosives at several businesses in Mogadishu on Saturday,   targeting shops that had complied with the government’s directive to install surveillance cameras.

The attacks occurred in the Tabeleha Sheikh Ibrahim neighborhood of Garas Baley,  where the affected businesses had recently installed CCTV cameras as ordered by the federal government.    The    Somali government    had mandated the installation of video surveillance systems as part of its efforts to improve security and monitor criminal activities in the capital.

Al-Shabab    an    extremist    militant group linked    to    al-Qaeda,    has previously issued warnings to traders in Mogadishu, particularly in major commercial hubs such as    Bakara Market,    Suuq Ba’ad   and    Hamar Wayne markets.    The group demanded that traders close their shops and business centers in defiance of government orders.

The    recent    bombings    come amid ongoing security difficulties for    leader    Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s    administration, which has faced setbacks in ground battles against Al-Shabab in the Galmudug and Hirshabelle regions.    However,    the government has achieved some short-term victories with the supported by U.S. AFRICOM drones,    which have been instrumental in neutralizing key Al-Shabaab threats.

Via at VOA SOMALI