CCTV cameras put shop owners in danger in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.

Shop owners in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu are caught between a rock and a hard place after government orders to install CCTV cameras outside their businesses to step up surveillance of Islamist insurgents who have a strong presence in the city. could

Businessmen say they risk being shot by al-Shabaab rebels if they install the cameras, and police may arrest them if they don’t.

The BBC has changed the names of the businessmen and householders for their own protection.

“You see me at home now because of the CCTV cameras,” says former shop owner Hamza Noor, 48, as he sits on a sofa holding one of his children.

He tells the BBC that he took the painful decision to sell his business to avoid the wrath of either party.

“You’re told not to remove the cameras on one side and then you’re asked to remove the cameras on the other side. Depending on your choice, you either have a bullet or a prison cell waiting for you. It will happen.” Mr. Noor added.

The government last year issued a directive to shop owners to install CCTV cameras – at their own cost – to prevent Al-Shabaab attacks.

Mogadishu Deputy Mayor Muhammad Ahmed Deri said this BBC Africa Daily Podcast That this decision has resulted.

“Mogadishu used to have four or five bombings every month, but that’s not the case anymore,” he says.

The government has now ordered residents to install cameras outside homes and apartment blocks, raising fears among many that al-Shabaab could bring its war into their homes.

Since October, al-Shabaab has killed four businessmen in 10 attacks related to the installation of CCTV cameras, according to Armed Conflict Location and Incident Data (Acled).

The government’s directive was ultimately intended to disrupt al-Shabaab’s funding sources as it extorts money from shop owners, but insurgent counter-attacks “forced many businesses in Mogadishu’s central markets to close their doors for several days.” “forced”, Eckel added. In a report published on its website.

Mr. Noor says that at first he ignored the government’s directive, but after members of the security forces came forward, he was forced to install the cameras.

“I tried to explain to them that I was just a poor man and didn’t want to join the government but they got angry and started threatening to ruin my life,” he tells the BBC. Will give.”

Mr. Noor says that once he installed the CCTV camera, he started receiving phone calls from unknown numbers.

“My body started shaking inside. I knew who it was,” he says, referring to al-Shabaab operatives who have a spy network that allows them to obtain information on civilians like Mr. Noor. .

Mr Noor says he changed his number, only to have a young man come to his shop in the morning.

“He lifted his shirt. He had a pistol in his waistband. He ordered me to turn on my SIM card.”

Mr Noor says he conceded, and the phone rang, the anonymous caller wanting to know if “the government’s demands are more important to you than ours”.

“I didn’t know what to do. The guy with the pistol just stood there the whole time, I was thinking, ‘Once I hang up on this phone call, is he going to shoot?'” I whispered under my breath. of,” added Mr Noor.

Fortunately, the man “walked out of the store without incident after I hung up,” he says.

Mr Noor says he decided to sell his business after two shopkeepers were shot dead in October.

“There is nothing more precious than a human life,” he says.

Criticizing the government’s directive, Mr. Noor added: “People who are trying to make ends meet are being dragged into a war against a powerful group that even the government is finding difficult to fight. Imagine how we feel as ordinary citizens.”

Deri denies that businesses are being closed or that owners are being forced to install CCTV cameras.

However, he admits that some traders are afraid, but says the government does its best to reassure and protect them.

“The city is quiet and business is smooth,” Deri added.

But Asio Mohammed Warsame told the BBC that masked gunmen killed his 40-year-old brother Dahir Mohammed Warsame in his shop in Mogadishu’s Yaqshad district in October after he surrendered under pressure from security forces. CTV cameras have been installed.

“She leaves behind six children, the youngest of whom is only four months old,” she says.

Ismail Hashi, a 33-year-old shopkeeper, says he closed his business after receiving anonymous calls from suspected al-Shabaab operatives.

“They knew more than just my name. It was like they already knew everything about me,” he tells the BBC.

Mr Hashi added that he later received a call from the police asking him to open his shop – and when he ignored them, he was detained for a few days before being released. went

Mr Hashi says he has now reopened his business.

“I still have CCTV cameras installed on the order of the government but I know the government cannot protect me if someone decides to take my life,” he says.

“Every time I’m standing behind the counter and someone I don’t recognize walks in, I get nervous and wonder if this is the person sent to kill me,” Mr. Hashi adds. .

Saidu Abdullah Muhammad, 39, told the BBC he was arrested after failing to install a CCTV camera at his home in Wajir district.

He further said that 14 other people on his road were also arrested.

“We were transferred to the Wadajir district police station where we were detained for hours. We were finally released when someone with an official ID card bailed us out,” says Mr Muhammad. kicked out.”

He added that he and other residents have now installed CCTV cameras – but they live in fear.

“As ordinary citizens, we are forced to buy cameras, pay to install them in our homes and risk violence from al-Shabaab. Is this how the government expects to win hearts and minds?”