Protests and Riots in Mogadishu as Bajaj Drivers Condemn Extortion and Rising Insecurity

On Tuesday,  Bajaj (rickshaw)    drivers in Mogadishu staged a significant protest to express    their    dismay    over    the growing insecurity as well as the increasing    extortion    and    bribery demands by Mogadishu authorities disguised    as    ‘taxes’.

As    stipulated    by Article 20 of the Somali Provisional Charter    and    all    relevant international    frameworks     peaceful protests    are    a fundamental    human right and    a  legitimate    way    for    youth to express their  grievances.

Somali Community    strongly    condemn the threats made by    Mogadishu Police Commander    Moalim Mahdi    a former member    of the    Al-Shabaab militant group,   Mahdi is well-known for his brutal actions and violations of basic human rights including the right to protest.

They  urge  the    Bajaj  drivers in Mogadishu to    continue    their peaceful gatherings   denounce    all forms of intimidation   and  ensure they record all violations,    including the use of force by the Al-Shabaab-infiltrated    police in    Mogadishu,   This will facilitate the documentation of cases for future legal action.

Opposition party   Himilo Qaran    led by former    President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed    strongly condemns the    “unacceptable” treatment by Banadir region security forces against the youth who staged the protest in Mogadishu    The party calls for accountability    and    the protection of citizens’ rights to peacefully express their concerns.

As Mogadishu’s streets fill with    protesters for the second day in a row    starting from Tuesday and continuing today  Wednesday,   it is clear that Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is not the leader Somalia deserves    From skyrocketing Bajaj license fees to silencing dissent with military force, he is proving himself to be more of a dictator than a president.

During an interview   a Bajaj driver in Mogadishu expressed his financial struggles, stating    “I can’t afford to pay an extra $200 USD.”    Despite his concerns, he faces the choice of paying the imposed charges or losing his menial job.

Unrest persists on Maka Al-Mukarama Road in Mogadishu for the second consecutive day as tuk-tuk drivers protest against the government’s increase in license fees. The drivers have blocked the key KM4 junction, which connects the airport to the rest of the city  and the situation remains tense.

“There’s an armed soldier on every street demanding money from us even with a license and  we can’t make a living under these conditions    President Hassan Sheikh and Mayor Madaale, who sent them, need to intervene,” said a tuk-tuk driver.

The  lack  of  cash    known as Somali “Shiid” in Mogadishu    has  reached  its  peak   disrupting  relations  among  young  people      Some  girls  have  said  that  men who  propose  to  them  are  also  broke      One  girl  mentioned  she  resorted  to walking   despite  the tuk-tuks  on  the  streets all because of “shiid.”


###   𝕯𝖗. 𝐗𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐆  ###


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