MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Traders in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, announced a strike on Friday in protest against the government’s relentless imposition of escalating taxes and fees, which they say disregard the dire economic conditions and mounting challenges faced by businesses.
In a strongly worded statement, the traders expressed frustration over the failure to resolve the issue, citing new levies and “arbitrary” fees imposed by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labor, police, and other government agencies. They highlighted that these additional burdens compound the dozens of existing taxes already stifling their operations, exacerbating inflation, eroding purchasing power, and fueling unemployment.
The statement also accused the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) of overstepping its mandate by directly collecting taxes and intimidating business owners, including forcibly shutting down their establishments—a practice described as unprecedented and unacceptable.
Since President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud assumed office, businesses and individuals have faced a steady rise in extortionate fees and taxes, with various government officials allegedly exploiting their positions to enrich themselves.
This has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures and former leaders, including ex-Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi, who recently condemned the arbitrary taxation as “overnight dream taxes” and accused top government echelons of orchestrating a systematic looting of public wealth.
The strike follows a series of controversial fee impositions, including a recent directive by the Ministry of Finance ordering the Ministry of Health to halt its collection of fees for a so-called “health book” required for travelers—a document unrecognized internationally.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Aviation introduced similar fees, sparking a temporary shutdown of operations at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport and stranding hundreds of passengers. Although the aviation fees were later suspended, airlines have since protested other newly introduced charges, further straining the country’s fragile economic ecosystem.
The traders’ strike underscores growing discontent among Somalia’s business community, who argue that the government’s exploitative fiscal policies are crippling the private sector and deepening the nation’s economic woes.
