MOGADISHU (HOL) - Ahmed has just viewed the third house for rent in a week within the Mogadishu area. Finding a new home is proving more difficult than ever before as there is greater competition for rental properties in the more desirable parts of Mogadishu after hotels have become targets for terrorist’s attacks.

 

 

 

"I think there have been 10 attacks on hotels in the last 10 months and this is only going to get worse I feel,” said Ahmed outside a rental property he was viewing. "Hotels have become a real target and it is scary because you do not know which one will be hit next.”

Ahmed came from abroad to work in the Somalia for a well-known NGO as a programs manager in 2013 but he is now working hard to establish a development and media consultancy in the capital.

"In the past I was frightened of living in a house but now it is safer, cheaper and more convenient if I want to make my consultancy a success,” said Ahmed.

Hotel owners in Mogadishu are working hard to reassure customers that they are taking every measure possible to protect them from harm. Mohamed Ali, a small hotel owner in Mogadishu, has increased security at the front gates and within the hotel itself.

"Almost all hotels now are improving their security by employing more guards, refusing parking outside their perimeters and profiling customers in most cases,” said Mr. Ali. "Luckily we have never been attacked but it is important to take precautions.”

In recent months Hotel Maka Al-Mukaram, Weheliye, Jazeera, Siyad, SYL and Sahafi have been targeted and infiltrated by AlShabaab with tragic human cost. These hotels are mainly popular with politicians and Government employees and this is the reason AlShabaab have argued they have targeted them.

"There can never be any excuse for terrorism but I agree that high profile customers, although they pay more, also bring greater risk than ordinary business folk,” said a security adviser with the Somali Government who did not want to be named. "This said, the politicians and Government employees need places to live, work and relax so the only solution is to make hotels into fortresses if they cannot live in a residential property.”

A senior official who did not want to be named within the Somali National Intelligence Security Agency (NISA) criticised the security arrangements of many of the hotels in Mogadishu.

"We have warned all hotel owners to take extra precautions. Install CCTV’s, profile customers, report suspicious activities etc. Very few ever listen and when they are attacked they blame the national security forces for slow response,” said the NISA official.

Local real estate agents and property owners are benefiting from those wanting to live within their communities and away from hotels. In fact, one realtor informed HOL that in the more desirable parts of Mogadishu there is a waiting time of at least 3 months and affluent home seekers are buying out the tenancies of poorer tenants.

"There is a real shortage of all sizes of homes and usually when one comes on the market it is hard to know unless you are connected to the realtor or the owner,” said a realtor who did not want to be named. "It is true that prices are inflated too in times of insecurity for customers. It is just the way the market is.”

Despite the threat of attacks and fear of living in hotels, many hotel customers have also decided to stay put. A source close to the management of Sahafi hotel told HOL that the hotel is undergoing major reconstruction and most customers are committed to staying.

"It is painful and tragic when a hotel gets attacked and people die and property is destroyed. Hotel management across the city are learning their lesson and improving security. This should help calm customers down and keep our clientele happily with us,” said the source close to the management of Sahafi hotel.

Quotation marks:-hiiiraan.com