Armed troops raided and looted the country's
largest open-air market in the capital, Mogadishu, on 19
February, local sources said.
"They took anything their vehicles could carry or tow," Ali
Muhammad Siad, the chairman of Bakara market traders, told IRIN.
Ethiopian-backed government forces have been surrounding the
market for the past two weeks, according to a local journalist,
who requested anonymity.
The government has accused market traders of supporting
insurgents and making it a safe haven for them. "We know that is
where they hide, plan and execute their attacks," Abdi Haji
Gobdon, the government spokesman, had told IRIN in an interview
last year.
Siad, however, denied the government's claim, saying no weapons
were found and government forces had met no resistance on 19
February. "We have done all we can to work with them but all we
got in return is this [looting]," he said.
A number of government officials contacted by IRIN were not
available for comment but one who requested anonymity, because
he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said security
forces did loot the market.
"I am afraid it is true, government forces went into the market
and went on a looting spree," he said.
The journalist said the forces entered the market early in the
morning and looted all the businesses they could access.
"They were not discriminating, from small traders to big
warehouses," he said.
Bakara "is where the exchange rate of the dollar is set for the
entire country and where wholesalers send their goods to other
markets in the city and outside", said the journalist.
“Revenge attack”
The attack occurred a day after insurgents routed government
forces in two districts of the city.
"Yesterday [18 February], government forces were forced out of
Hawl Wadag and Wardigley [south Mogadishu] district by the
insurgents," a local source said.
He said at least 20 people died and 30 more were injured, mostly
government forces.
Siad said the looting of Bakara market was an act of revenge on
the part of the government. "Bakara is paying for what happened
yesterday," he said.
A civil society source condemned the attack, saying: "This is
not what you would expect from a government claiming to want to
restore law and order. As civil society, we have reached a point
where we cannot work with this government. It is outrageous that
the forces that were meant to provide security are the ones
causing insecurity."
He said many people who depended on the market for their
livelihoods were destitute, as the looting and regular closures
of the market would affect thousands.
According to civil society sources, at least 6,000 people have
reportedly been killed in the fighting in Mogadishu between
Ethiopian-backed government forces and insurgents and at least
700,000 displaced.
The UN estimates that about 5,000 war-wounded were admitted to
Mogadishu's two main hospiCabdi Casiis Golf
Xafiiska Wararka Mareeg ee Moqdisho
