Business owners in Mogadishu have shut down their shops in protest against a new 5% sales tax imposed by the Somali government. This tax, which applies to both regular goods and digital transactions, has caused widespread anger among the business community. They argue that the tax will make it even harder to afford everyday necessities in an already tough economic situation.

Major markets, including Bakara, one of the largest in the city, have closed as part of the protest. Business owners have declared a strike, demanding that the government either remove the tax or come up with a better solution. They are worried that this tax will hurt businesses and make life more expensive for everyone.

In response, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud addressed the nation, explaining that the tax is part of a plan to improve Somalia’s tax system and raise money for important services like security. He assured people that this isn’t a new tax but a way to make sure everyone pays their fair share. Despite this, there’s still a lot of resistance, especially from some regions like Jubbaland, which have refused to follow the new tax rules.

Adding to the tension, police and security forces have reportedly restricted several journalists from covering these protests. According to the Somali Journalists Syndicate, a group of local journalists was arbitrarily detained this morning in Mogadishu. They had gone to report on the closure of businesses in Bakara market, where shop owners were protesting against the newly imposed taxes