Mogadishu's Second Largest Market Reopened,food prices still Rising
Mohamed Ahmed Nur (Tarsan), the mayor of Mogadishu, announced today that Sukh Ba’ad, the second largest market in the Somali capital, has been reopened.
“The market is officially reopened and will resume business activities. We hope that the market will compete with other markets and possibly become the leading one," Tarsan told Somalia Report.
For the last two years, Sukh Ba’ad, located in the northern part of Mogadishu in the Yakshid district, has been a main stronghold of the al-Shabaab insurgent group and an important revenue stream in their fight against Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG).
The market has been closed since early this month when al-Shabaab deserted the capital and TFG forces, backed by African Union peacekeepers, took control of the market to ensure it was free of booby traps, IEDs, and fighters.
“The government and Banadir's Regional Council have clear policies supporting the enhancement of free trade and opening businesses. We have had a strong collaboration with them for a long time. We are committed to maintaining the security of Sukh Ba’ad, especially the money transfer companies,“ explained the mayor.
The market has a vast range of businesses and trade activities including money transfer companies as well as stalls selling food, clothes, fuel, cosmetics, jewelry, meats, and vegetables.
Earlier this month a large portion of the market caught fire and some property was looted as government forces marched into the market.
“The market was abandoned, but looters were scattered inside. Fortunately much of the property in the market was secured,“ Ahmadey Hadafow, a businessman who fled to Dharkeley when al-Shabaab took control of the market, told Somalia Report.
The prices of the main food commodities have increased since the government seized the market. For comparison, today's prices in Sukh Ba'ad Market are listed first/followed by prices in Bakara Market before the TFG took control.
Rice (1kg) - 23,000 Somali Shillings/18,000 Somali Shillings
Sugar (1kg) - 33,000 Somali Shillings/28,000 Somali Shilling
Pasta (1kg) - 36,000 Somali Shillings/28,000 Somali Shillings
Flour (1kg) - 22,000 Somali Shillings/19,000 Somali Shillings
Cooking Oil (1kg) - 37,000 Somali Shillings/50,000 Somali Shilling
The reopening of the Sukh Ba’ad will revitalize business in Mogadishu especially since the largest market, Bakara, is still closed.
