MOGADISHU, Somalia — Authorities in Somalia’s capital have enforced a new order requiring traders to accept the Somali shilling, after many businesses recently refused the local currency.
Mayor of Mogadishu, Hassan Mohamed Hussein, also known as Mungab, issued the directive following an emergency meeting with Mogadishu’s business community. The order took effect Thursday across the city.
Mungab warned that any trader who refuses to accept the Somali shilling would be considered in violation of the law.
In a statement, he said the local currency is a “pillar of national existence” and essential to the country’s economic activity, adding that protecting it is a constitutional responsibility.
Traders in several markets resumed using the currency, including the 1,000-shilling note, which had fallen out of use in recent days.
A woman selling goods at Suuq Bacaad market said she had begun accepting the shilling in compliance with the order.
“Since the mayor said we must accept it, we started today,” she said. “Without small change, business cannot function because customers expect their balance.”
Another trader, who sells vegetables, said the rejection of the Somali shilling had disrupted business.
“We were confused over the past two days and couldn’t sell properly,” he said. “We welcome the administration’s decision.”
The directive follows growing concern among officials over the declining use of the Somali shilling in daily transactions in Mogadishu.