Alcohol smuggling is on the rise in Somalia, as individuals like Guled Diriye, age 29, navigate dangerous routes to transport contraband from the Ethiopian border to Mogadishu.
Diriye, exhausted after yet another perilous trip, describes the toll of traversing conflict-ridden areas and dealing with armed checkpoints. His experience highlights the severe challenges faced by those resorting to smuggling as a means of survival in an economy struggling under the weight of poverty.
Despite the illegal status of alcohol sales in Somalia, demand remains strong, particularly among the youth. Stories like Diriye’s underscore the complex dynamics at play: a once-promising minibus-taxi driver now turned smuggler after losing his livelihood to competition from rickshaws.
His entry into smuggling was facilitated by a friend, stemming from desperate economic circumstances. Alcohol, often smuggled in trucks loaded with other goods, becomes a significant source of income. The illicit trade route extends from Ethiopian towns, where alcohol originates, through various Somali towns known for trafficking activities.
Authorities remain unable to fully control the smuggling operations, as tribal elders express alarm over rising alcohol-related violence. Sheikh Abdalla Mohamed Ali, local tribal council chairman, notes the hopeless cycle of destruction: “Despite seizures, the flow of alcohol continues unabated in our town.”
As smugglers brave militias and bandit attacks along treacherous routes, they face grim realities. Many, like Diriye, recount harrowing close calls, including the loss of colleagues to violence. Diriye recalled the heart-wrenching moment he was forced to leave the body of a fallen companion by the roadside, a memory that haunts him today.
For many individuals in Somalia, such as Diriye and his colleague Dahir Barre, smuggling is not just a choice but a method of survival in a nation rife with poverty and limited opportunities. Barre, who started smuggling in 2015, highlights the dire economic conditions that push many towards this dangerous profession.
The risks are substantial, especially with armed groups like al-Shabab enforcing harsh penalties on those caught transgressing the law. Yet, for these smugglers, the lure of financial gain keeps them on the road, navigating checkpoints and making dangerous deals in a country where normalcy remains a distant dream.
While their journeys are fraught with peril, smugglers like Diriye and Barre continue their risky trade, reflecting the harsh realities of life in Somalia and the lengths people will go to in pursuit of a better livelihood.
