(27 Aug 2024) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) – The Al-Shabaab militant group has reportedly devised a new scheme to extort funds from rural Somali camel herders, further exacerbating the challenges faced by these communities.
According to sources, Al-Shabaab has established camps in areas under their control where they impound stray or unattended camels. Owners seeking to reclaim their livestock are then coerced into paying a “fee” of $150 per camel, or a portion of their herd, depending on the number of impounded animals.
This practice, which effectively amounts to a ‘camel tax’, has sparked outrage among herders, who are already grappling with the hardships of living in Al-Shabaab-controlled territories.
Camel herders have voiced their grievances, appealing to the Somali government for intervention and protection against the militants. Some have even expressed their willingness to take up arms against Al-Shabaab, provided they receive government support.
Three of the main ‘camel camps’ are reportedly located in Lower Shabelle, specifically in the villages of Bulo-Fulay, Leego and Farsooley, where herders feel particularly vulnerable and isolated.
It is believed that this exploitative practice is being implemented across all Al-Shabaab-held areas, prompting growing calls for action to liberate these communities from the militants’ grip.
Halqabsi News
