Economic activities back to Mogadishu

Life is slowly but surely returning to the Somali capital Mogadishu a city had been not long ago synonymous with chaos and anarchy. Business activities are markedly booming as people reopen shops and local traders are importing goods as far as the Gulf State of United Arab Emirates and China after security improved in the capital since last year's withdrawal of Al-Shabaab. Hassan Ali is one of the local traders at Mogadishu's Bakara markets. He says economic activities are gradually returning traders are bringing various goods from different countries. "At Bakara market business is growing. We sell various goods we import from many different countries mainly in Asia such as United Arab Emirates, Oman, China and Indonesia. Trade is really booming here," Ali told Xinhua in a recent interview as he worked in his grocery shop in Bakara market. Somalis in the Diaspora have been pouring into the country as security improved and investment by Somalis from overseas have increased as many of the start-ups. Hundreds of people displaced by the fighting in Mogadishu have returned to their homes. Schools and other government buildings are under reconstruction while roads in the city have been repaired. Local crafts trade have also picked up with many wares on sale in a number of markets that have been reopened in the capital Mogadishu. Asli Abdulleh, a trader of house utensils, says work still needs to be done to restructure the main Bakara and that tax collection needs to be organized. "Trade is doing fairly ok but the market, although it was organized and many squatter structures were destroyed, a lot need to be done because it is not organized. Government needs to do something about this," Abdulleh told Xinhua outside his store in Mogadishu. Somali government has made it a priority to reopen markets in Mogadishu and several markets of various sizes were reopened after security improved in most of the districts in Mogadishu. Both imported goods and locally produced agricultural products are brought to the markets. The main Mogadishu sea and airport are operating and essential imports arrive at the markets on a daily bases. Hassan Mohamed, a trader of plastic wares is optimistic about the future of the economy of the country and that of Mogadishu in particular. He says the movement and betterment of people's situation has taken a life of its own and will self-perpetuate for good. "As a long-time trader at this market, I imported goods from many countries including U.A.E and China. I think we have come out of the dark days and Somali people have now come to realize that we need to improve ourselves by ourselves and not wait for outside world to come and do things for us. There is no turning back for us, we have to mark ahead," Mohamed said as he organized his sat in his shop in Bakara market. Somalia has been through two decades of civil conflict and most state and economic infrastructures were destroyed. But following the defeat of the radical group of Al-Shabaab and their subsequent withdrawal from Mogadishu last year social and economic life has been witnessing resurgence. The reopening of businesses and the start-ups of new ones in various streets and markets in Mogadishu and the construct boom all over the seaside city has become a familiar sight of the Somali capital instead of the daily shelling, suicide attacks and constant gunfire for which it was notoriously known as the most dangerous city in the world.