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."
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