Somalis riot over food prices
- added May 5, 2008
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- addctd2whticnsay
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Thousands of people rioted in the streets of the Somali capital on Monday to protest rising food prices and shops' refusal to accept Somali currency.
Witnesses said two protesters were shot dead by Somali soldiers who were guarding buildings that were attacked by demonstrators.
Abdi Ud, a journalist with Somalia's Shabelle Media Network, said the protesters were angry because Mogadishu shopkeepers refused to accept Somali shillings and instead demanded payment in U.S. dollars.
Shops throughout the city closed down in fear of the demonstrations, he said.
The United Nations recently warned of "a deteriorating humanitarian situation" in Somalia as a result of soaring food prices and a worsening drought.
"About 2.6 million Somalis now need assistance -- more than a third of the country's population, representing a rise of 40 percent since January," according to a May 2 U.N. news release.
The problem in Mogadishu has been compounded by heavy fighting between Somali government forces, backed by Ethiopian troops, and Islamist fighters.
Parts of the Somali capital have been described as ghost towns because of the exodus of thousands of residents due to the fighting, which has surged in recent weeks.
The U.N. says 7,000 people fled the capital after bloody battles last month, joining a population of displaced Somalis that aid groups estimate tops 1 million.
Witnesses said two protesters were shot dead by Somali soldiers who were guarding buildings that were attacked by demonstrators.
Abdi Ud, a journalist with Somalia's Shabelle Media Network, said the protesters were angry because Mogadishu shopkeepers refused to accept Somali shillings and instead demanded payment in U.S. dollars.
Shops throughout the city closed down in fear of the demonstrations, he said.
The United Nations recently warned of "a deteriorating humanitarian situation" in Somalia as a result of soaring food prices and a worsening drought.
"About 2.6 million Somalis now need assistance -- more than a third of the country's population, representing a rise of 40 percent since January," according to a May 2 U.N. news release.
The problem in Mogadishu has been compounded by heavy fighting between Somali government forces, backed by Ethiopian troops, and Islamist fighters.
Parts of the Somali capital have been described as ghost towns because of the exodus of thousands of residents due to the fighting, which has surged in recent weeks.
The U.N. says 7,000 people fled the capital after bloody battles last month, joining a population of displaced Somalis that aid groups estimate tops 1 million.
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- addctd2whticnsay
- 5 months ago
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Shopkeepers unable to accept their own country's currency, no wonder there were riots.
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- Joseph_James
- 5 months ago
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Why is it that when it comes to Africa the news is set on the back burner? The biggest news networks in the world rarely if ever report on what’s going on in the Congo or Somalia (excluding current of course). Entire villages in the Congo are wiped out in the most brutal ways imaginable. Torture by means of cutting, burning, gouging, strangulation, and rape among others are not above rebel insurgents and even the people’s own government forces. Children die by the dozens because rebel insurgent’s burn crops and slaughter live stock.
Then again I guess we do need to hear about the latest Paris Hilton/Brittany Spears incident, now THAT is news I can sink my teeth into. >.< -
What is sadder try is that it really wouldn't take that much to fix, at least as far getting the basic human needs taken care of. People simply do not care what happens there. Sure we cringe when we see it as a CNN highlight, but after that, it doesn't exist...
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And our president blames the growth of the Indian middle class...guess a C in economics at Yale isn't much to prepare for those public speeches... -
watch this comment being used hereyeah , the last time the US tried to intervene in Somalia helicopters were shot down , the bodies of US soldiers were maimed horrifically , and Somalia hasn't really changed since . what's new .
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diamonds ,guns ,and pharmaceuticals.why fix africa sounds like big business to me. almost like wallstreet.
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Decentralize government with no leadership is of ignorance so it can be easier for business control. No one cares about black people. Not even North American Blacks.
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I'm sure in most places in the world if a shopkeeper refused to accept the local currency, there'd be riots.
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Rape, Amputations, mutilations, Burning of all things "in the way" what next? If churches love to do "God's Work" why don't they "all" come together and fix "Our" Somalia problem?
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As a fellow Somali living in America, i am so sad that the world is not paying attention on what is going on.
Last time i remember the cost of cup of tea was 1000shilling , but now its aout of control.
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