This cannot be accomplished without help from powerful, influential people who agree with the group’s outlook and agenda.
“New Report Shows Militant Group Al-Shabab Collecting $15 Million A Month in Tax Revenue in Somalia,” by Jason Woodroofe, Organization for World Peace, November 25, 2020 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
What happens when a terrorist group collects almost as much in taxes from citizens than the government? A new report by the Hiraal Institute alleges that in Somalia this has been the case. The insurgent group al-Shabab is estimated to be collecting an approximate $15 million USD a month from Somali citizens. That’s $180 million USD a year. Anadolu Agency reported that in 2017 the Somali government’s overall tax revenue for the year was $141 million USD.
Al-Shabab has been conducting a brutal insurgency in Somalia since 2004 and effectively controls the southern half of the country. Even in the northern half, al-Shabab holds a large degree of influence as is evidenced throughout the findings of the Hiraal Institute report.
The report is the second in two years on the capabilities of al-Shabab’s domestic financing and tax collection. This report indicates a large jump in the capabilities of the group compared to just two years prior. The report is based off interviews with 70 bussinessmen [sic], government officials, al-Shabab defectors and even current members of the group’s tax collection wing. The interviews took place in person and via the phone.
Hiraal’s findings show a well designed network of tax collection that is evolving over time. Current revenue streams for the group include placing a tax on the import and export of shipping containers at ports, an annual individual religious tax, a tax on irrigation in rural areas and the collection of tolls from checkpoints. Reuters reports that Hiraal’s findings come before a long anticipated “United Nations report expected to say al Shabaab is generating a significant cash surplus and moving millions of dollars through the formal banking system.”
The level of taxation that al-Shabab is achieving is an impressive feat, but it is driven by intimidation and fear. The report highlights multiple examples of intimidation and coercion. One of the most notable of these is about a Somali military officer who refused to pay taxes to al-Shabab.
The commander was attempting to construct his house when his contractors quit after being threatened by al-Shabab. The same thing happened to the second group of contractors and eventually even the materials for the house stopped arriving after the trucks were held up by the militants. In the end the commander had no choice but to pay almost $3,600 in tax to the group in order to finish construction….
Atheist Kafir says
Over here, in the heart of Islamoland, namely Egyptstan, which is home ? to El-Azhar, Egyptian Kuffar, especially Christians, have been poll taxed the Jizya, officially and non-officially, by Koranimals.
gregbeetham says
When you look at it, what’s the difference between the cult of Satan and a Mafia crime gang? They both use the same violence and intimidation combined with extortion and they both murder people for not complying with their rules so in reality there isn’t much difference except for a veneer of corrupted religiosity in the former.
Atheist Kafir says
Right you are!
VarAway says
What else to expect from simply another failed sh.thole country?
But as long as leftwing ruled islam kissing donor countries are still delivering their foreign aid ( TAXpayers money ) in utmost generous amounts, they will always remain a burden
to any normal society!
Go figure…
Dave R says
You do not want to get audited by their collections battalion.
Infidel says
They’ve probably done a better job monetizing YouTube videos and Google ads, something that normal Somalis are too stupid to figure out. I once had a Somalian Lyft driver take me home, and at the end of it, he was asking me to show him how to end a ride on the Lyft app. This despite the fact that Lyft sends one a person to show him/her how to use the app, and inspect the car, and do a test drive, once one signs up. Those people are that stupid, probably from inbreeding
inquisitor says
note that somalian jihadists are supplied weapons by turkey that has bought the dept of somalia recently…. clearly it is erdogan who rules what is happening in the war torn country…. note also that the chairman of the international court of hague is somali……
OLD GUY says
Sounds just like the rackets of the mafia. Pay up or we will burn you out or kill you.
gravenimage says
Somalia: Jihad terror group al-Shabaab collects $15 million a month in taxes, more than the Somali government
…………………
Who can be surprised by this?