... the personification of Somali state failure...intensified a campaign of taxation on businesses in southern Somalia, particularly in the area between the towns of Afgoye and Wanlaweyn in the Lower Shabelle region, local sources said Saturday.
According to residents who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, al-Shabaab is pressuring local traders to pay "zakat". No video or audio evidence, as the volatile security situation has restricted access to the affected areas.
The group has also reportedly tightened its grip on several strategic locations along the Shabelle River, including the towns of Sabiid, Caanoole, Moryaanle, Owdheegle, and Mubarak, as well as surrounding villages.
Attacks by al-Shabaab in the Lower and Middle Shabelle regions have surged in recent months, with security analysts and local officials confirming that the frequency of operations has nearly doubled over the past two months, fueling fear among civilians and business owners.
Security sources and analysts say the stepped-up taxation and renewed assaults reflect a broader effort by the group to reclaim territory lost in recent years during offensives by Somali government forces and allied militias.
Meanwhile,
...back at the barn, Bossy had come up with a new idea, one that didn't involve kerosene...
joint government and local security forces are continuing operations aimed at recapturing areas under al-Shabaab control, amid growing concern over the group’s resurgence in key regions of southern Somalia.