Criticizing the government’s directive, Mr. Nuur adds: “People trying to make ends meet are embroiled in a war against a powerful group that even the government finds difficult to fight. Just imagine how we feel as civilians.”
Diriye denies that businesses are being shut down or that owners are being forced to install CCTV cameras.
However, he admits that some businessmen are afraid, but says the government is doing everything it can to reassure and protect them.
“The city is calm and things are going smoothly,” adds Dirie.
But Asia Mohamed Warsame tells the BBC that masked gunmen killed her 40-year-old brother Dahir Mohamed Warsame at his shop in Mogadishu’s Yakshid district in October after he installed CCTV cameras under pressure from security forces.
“He left six children, the youngest was only four months old,” she says.
Shopkeeper Ismael Hashi, 33, says he closed his business after receiving anonymous calls from suspected al-Shabaab.
“They knew my name and more. It was like they already knew everything about me,” he tells the BBC.
Mr. Hashi adds that he later received a call from the police telling him to open his shop, and when he ignored them, he was detained for several days before being released.
Mr. Hashi says he has now resumed his business.
“I still have CCTV cameras installed by order of the government, but I know that the government cannot protect me if someone decides to take my life,” he says.
“Every time I’m standing at the counter and someone I don’t recognize walks in, I get nervous and wonder if it’s really the person they sent to kill me,” Mr. Hashi adds.
Sidaw Abdullahi Mohammed, 39, tells the BBC he was arrested for failing to install a CCTV camera at his home in the Wajir area.
He adds that 14 more people were arrested on his street.
“We were transferred to the Wadajir district police station, where we were detained for several hours. We were eventually released after someone with a government ID came and vouched for us and took us out,” says Mr Mohammed.
He adds that now he and other residents have installed video surveillance cameras — but they live in fear.
“As civilians, we are forced to buy cameras, pay for them to be installed in our homes and risk violence from al-Shabaab.” Is this how the government hopes to win hearts and minds?”
