Tuesday December 17, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) – Al-Shabab militants have reportedly beheaded a man identified as Difaa, accusing him of collaborating with federal government forces to collect taxes.
The incident occurred in Buula Mareer district in the Lower Shabelle region and marks the second such execution in the area within a week.
This attack is the third instance this month in which al-Shabab has publicly beheaded civilians alleged to support government forces. In a separate incident, the group executed a motorcyclist near Farahanole, between Qoryooley and Buula Mareer, for similar accusations.
The group has increasingly targeted civilians and businesses, particularly those complying with government directives such as installing CCTV cameras in commercial premises. This week, at least five people, including children, were injured in a series of landmine explosions targeting homes in Garasbaley district, Mogadishu. Residents reported that six explosives were planted outside houses equipped with security cameras, underscoring al-Shabab's retaliation against surveillance measures.
The brutal civilian killings and attacks coincide with Somali Prime Minister Hamse Abdi Barre's appeal to the business community to resist al-Shabab's extortion. Barre urged businesses to redirect funds previously paid as extortion money toward arming themselves against the militant group, with government authorization.
"There are big businessmen sitting here who often visit al-Shabab-controlled areas like Jilib. I tell you to take up arms—legalized by the government—so you can face the enemy that oppresses you," said Prime Minister Barre.
The federal government has recently ramped up efforts to dismantle financial networks linked to al-Shabab. Initiatives such as freezing accounts and disrupting money laundering operations have significantly weakened the group's ability to fund its activities.