Mogadishu Mayor: Rejecting Somali Shilling now a Crime

By Asha Elmi - Reporter

Somalia, 15 April 2026 Mogadishu’s mayor declared refusing Somali shilling a criminal offence, citing complaints from residents and businesses about its widespread refusal in the capital.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by Banadir regional administration spokesman Salah Hassan Omar, after an emergency meeting convened by Mayor Hassan Mohamed ‘Mungab’ with various business groups to address the issue.

Participants included money exchangers, retailers, transport operators, food vendors, and representatives from regional and national chambers of commerce, according to the administration.

The discussions focused on the impact of the rejection of shilling to the local economy, underlying causes and need for an urgent solution.

The mayor told business leaders that rejecting the national currency was unacceptable, describing the Somali shilling as a key pillar of the country’s economic system.

He ordered that local taxes collected by the municipal government be paid in Somali shillings and instructed money exchangers to accept and trade the currency.

Somali Region Votes as Ethiopia Holds Seventh General Election

From Wajir to the Nation: President Ruto Presides Over 63rd Madaraka Day Celebrations

“Anyone who refuses is committing a crime,” the spokesman quoted the mayor as saying.

Mungab also called for the immediate halt of the practice, while acknowledging the challenges faced by businesses. He said the Banadir administration would support efforts to address traders’ concerns and facilitate smoother use of the local currency.

Business representatives welcomed the meeting and expressed regret over the difficulties faced by residents due to the rejection of the Somali shilling.

Both sides agreed to strengthen the use of the local currency, particularly to protect low-income groups and support economic activity in Mogadishu.

The move comes as traders in Mogadishu shift toward U.S. dollars and digital payments, raising concerns over the declining use of the Somali shilling in everyday transactions.

Recent Posts

Somali Region Votes as Ethiopia Holds Seventh General Election

From Wajir to the Nation: President Ruto Presides Over 63rd Madaraka Day Celebrations

IPOA Sounds Alarm on Protest Violence as Kenya's Political Temperatures Rise

Categories

Mogadishu Mayor: Rejecting Somali Shilling now a Crime

Related Articles

Somali Data Protection Authority Opens Registration for Institutions Handling Personal Data

Somalia Denies Summoning Ambassador Over Avocado Conference Attended by Israeli ambassador in Kenya

Malnutrition Cases Rise in Mandera North as Dozens of Children Admitted to Hospital