The Al Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia are allegedly extorting huge sums from starving communities in north of Somali capital Mogadishu.
The group has imposed Zakawat ( levies) on local residents in small villages near Bal’ad town, some 30km north of Mogadishu, a source, who asked to be anonymous said.
He says the strict order by Al Shabaab comes after the group’s armed fighters had taken control of the villages following Somali army forces and African Union troops pulled out.
“We are facing financial pressures and an apparent crisis of morale after an order by Al-Shabaab group”, he said.
The group, which once controlled much of south and central Somalia, including the capital Mogadishu, was forced to retreat to rural areas by a military force drawn from regional armies years ago.
In March, a senior Al-Shabab commander, in charge of Zakawat (levy) collections in Hiiraan region was killed in an operation conducted by Somali forces backed African Union troops in central Somalia’s Hiran region.
The leader who was identified as Ali Ahmed Gure was heading the group’s fighters in Hees village which lies 35km away from Beledweyne town, some 335km north of Somali capital Mogadishu.
The al Qaeda inspired group lost major town to a new military campaign launched by Somali army forces backed by African Union troops and supported by the US intensive drone strikes in Somalia.
