Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has called on businesspeople to resist paying extortion money to Al-Shabaab, which funds their attacks on civilians and businesses.
Instead, he urged them to safeguard themselves and their properties by acquiring government-licensed weapons.
This statement is part of ongoing efforts to curtail the influence of Al-Shabaab, which continues to pose significant threats to security and stability in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia.