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ANGER ON THE STREETS: Thousands of Somalians protesting in Mogadishu yesterday against rising food prices and soaring inflation. Troops opened fire, killing at least five people when the protesters turned violent. -- PHOTO: AP
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MOGADISHU - SECURITY forces yesterday killed at least five people in the Somali capital Mogadishu as they cracked down on riots sparked by rising food prices and record inflation, witnesses said.
At least 20,000 people were out on the streets to demonstrate as anger grew at printers of fake money and unscrupulous traders whose preference for US dollars over the Somali shilling is helping to push inflation to record levels.
The mobs burned tyres, stoned motorists and smashed shop windows before police moved in to prevent the unrest from spiralling out of control.
Clashes ensued with police becoming embroiled in running battles with looting protesters and gunfire and grenade explosions echoing across the war-torn city.
Over the past three months, the value of the Somali shilling has fallen dramatically from 17,000 shillings for US$1 (S$1.35) to 30,000 shillings for US$1, a BBC report said. This has been blamed on the printing of vast quantities of the local currency at illegal presses, said the report.
'We are asking traders to stop their cruel business practices. They are refusing to take the Somali shilling and are instead insisting on the dollar,' said Hussein Mohamed Ali, a demonstrator.
'We have our own currency. If that currency is rejected, it means that we have no way to live and that is why we are demonstrating today,' added Mr Mukhtar Ali, another protester.
Somalia is the latest African country to suffer such protests in recent months, after Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, South Africa and Senegal.
On Sunday, Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade called on the United Nations to dismantle its Food and Agriculture Organisation, calling it an ineffective money-eater which failed to help avert the global food crisis.
Skyrocketing food prices, stoked by rising fuel prices, unpredictable weather and growing demand from India and China's burgeoning middle classes, have sparked sometimes violent protests in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
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