VOA Somali can now reveal that Al-Shabaab is highly influential in Mogadishu. It traces the increased power to late 2019 when the Federal Government of Somalia asked the National Chamber of Commerce to appoint fresh leaders in the Banaadir Chamber.
Before the National Chamber of Commerce could do that, Al-Shabaab summoned businesspersons in the city to Lower Shabelle. The extremist militia then issued directions on the names of leaders they would love to see in office.
Subsequently, under the leadership of Mohamud Abdikarim Gabaire, the organization settled on Ahmed Abdullahi, as the person to take lead them. The Ministry of Commerce was unhappy with this. Therefore, they dissolved Banaadir Chamber of commerce in December 2019.
As this transpired, worries now abound on the power that Al-Shabaab wields over the business community in the city. Businesspeople say they are afraid and helpless. They have no choice than to work with the Al-Qaeda linked group.
