Al-Shabaab Expands Tax Collection Operations Between Balcad and Jowhar, Tightening Control Over Movement and Economic Activity

Jowhar (WDN) — Al-Shabaab militants have intensified their tax collection operations in communities commuting between Balacd and Jowhar, the capital of Hirshabelle State, exploiting seasonal flooding and deteriorating road conditions to reassert their presence in areas that government forces have recently claimed to control.

The development highlights a troubling reality facing Somalia: while political leaders in Mogadishu remain consumed by disputes over elections, constitutional legitimacy, and power-sharing arrangements, Al-Shabaab continues to demonstrate an ability to adapt, regroup, and generate revenue across strategic parts of the country.

Recent seasonal rains have left sections of the main highway connecting Balcad and Jowhar submerged, forcing commercial vehicles traveling from Mogadishu toward Jowhar and Somalia’s central regions to abandon the paved road and use alternative dirt routes. According to local residents and drivers, Al-Shabaab has quickly moved to exploit the situation.

The group is reportedly establishing checkpoints along these alternative routes, stopping vehicles and collecting what it describes as “taxes” from travelers and transport operators. The amount demanded reportedly varies according to the type of vehicle and the cargo being transported.