Thursday December 26, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) – Somali-owned businesses in Mozambique have been heavily looted amidst ongoing political unrest triggered by disputed election results.
The looting has primarily affected Somali businesses in the capital, Maputo, and the city of Nampula, according to members of the Somali community in the country.
Mahmoud Abdulqadir Jama, a Somali businessman based in Nampula, recounted his extensive losses.
"They took a large amount of goods—ranging from a container to a container and a half—from my shop. They also looted goods from a neighboring shop, with significant damage across multiple markets targeting Somali-owned businesses," Jama explained.
Foreign entrepreneurs, including Somalis, have expressed growing fears for their safety and the security of their businesses as the situation in Mozambique continues to deteriorate.
The unrest has also led to a large-scale prison break, with over 1,500 inmates escaping amid the chaos, according to Mozambican police. Clashes between guards and prisoners resulted in 33 deaths and 15 injuries. Police Chief Bernardino Rafael reported that approximately 150 of the escapees have since been recaptured.
The unrest erupted on Monday after Mozambique's highest court confirmed the ruling Frelimo party's victory in the October presidential elections, extending its hold on power since 1975. Protests over the court's decision have escalated, spreading violence across multiple regions.