Somali Traders Cry Foul as Cargo Held at Airport Warehouse Run by President’s Relative

A man identified as the nephew of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the President of Somalia, has reportedly come under scrutiny after nearly 100 tons of goods belonging to Somali traders were held at a warehouse inside Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.

According to traders, the warehouse is managed by Abdirisak, who is said to be the president’s nephew. The business owners claim their goods have been stuck in the facility for nearly two weeks, despite their willingness to pay all required government taxes.

The traders allege that additional fees imposed by the company operating the warehouse have prevented the release of their cargo. They say the delay has significantly disrupted their businesses and are calling for immediate intervention from authorities so the goods can be released and allowed into local markets.

Sources familiar with the situation say the company recently transformed what was previously a free cargo service into a fee-based operation after constructing a new warehouse at the airport. The move has sparked allegations of favoritism and corruption, with critics warning that the warehouse manager may be leveraging his family ties to the president.

So far, neither the warehouse management nor the Somali government has issued an official statement addressing the traders’ complaints or clarifying the reasons behind the prolonged hold on the cargo.