Fire in Hamar Weyne
The Somali business community in the government-controlled Hamar Weyne district of Mogadishu suffered heavy losses after an inferno hit the popular business point in the early hours Tuesday.
The cause of the fire was not yet independently or officially verified but Somalia Report has learned that business rivalry might have been the cause.
The fire ravaged a three story building in the heart of the business hub, but was extinguished by Transitional Federal Government (TFG), African Union (AMISOM) and local Mogadishu seaport firefighters.
Mogadishu Mayor Mohamed Ahmed Noor Tarsan arrived at the scene and congratulated the AMISOM forces for arriving fast enough to avert further loses.
‘‘I am really grateful to the AMISOM forces for the bravery and resilience they have shown today in helping their needy Somali brothers,’’ Tarsan told Somalia Report.
‘‘We lost everything we had in the fire. We didn't even have a chance to salvage the remnants since the inferno occurred in the early hours and we had not yet opened our stalls,’’ Salma Hashi, a tailor in Mogadishu, told Somalia Report.
‘‘It was hard since the AMISOM forces prevented us from using the back doors of the premises to pull out what was left of our businesses,’’ Salma added.
Was al-Shabaab Behind the Fire?
Somalia Report managed to interview several traders in Hamar Weyne over the possibility that the fire was intentionally set. The response was overwhelming. Most of the traders argued that al-Shabaab needed the traders to return back to Bakara Market where the militants hoped to earn a better revenue from them.
Ismail Habeeb, a wholesaler, told Somalia Report that al-Shabaab was financially broken and needed the traders operating in the government administered sides of the capital, including Hamar Weyne, to relocate in large numbers to Elesha Biyaha and Bakara Market which are mainly controlled by the militants.
‘‘We fled the mortars and shells and we are now at peace in the AMISOM controlled area and we wish to still stay here,’’ Ismail explained.
"In Bakara and Elesha Biyaha, we do not get the profits as compared to Hamar Weyne because the government is our main buyer and they are all based in this small area,’’ Ismail added.
Most of the traders said that it is better operating in the government side to evade the al-Shabaab imposed taxes and the constant fear of attacks.
‘‘In Hamar Weyne the government staff buys most of their necessities from us and we never wish to go back to Bakara where we barely see our savings,’’ Ismail added.
Did you verify this claim? they have plenthy of fresh water in moqadishu. Salt water will cause permanent damage to the buildings with it's corrosive properties. Salt water + elevated temperature = corrosion = structural failure.
. They have plenty of fresh water, especially since a dubai based drilling company just drilled freshwater for villa somalia this week.