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Somali ISPs close down after al-Shabaab threats

Somali miltant group, al-Shabaab, has successfully forced the countries two main ISPs to close down following threats of violence issued earlier in the month. al-Shabaab issued a warning to internet companies operating in the central and southern regions of the country on the 8th of January, and according to reports over the weekend the group has successfully intimidated Hormuud Telecom and Nationlink into closing down their services.

The Somali government had been trying to persuade operators into defying al-Shabaab and leaving their services on.

According to CIO East Africa, militants entered the offices of the two providers and threatened staff, and have been checking mobile phones on the street to ensure they have no access. The shutdown was first reported by Sabahi Online last week. We’ve asked both Hormuud and Nationlink to comment, but as yet have received no reply. The original warning was issued on a local radio station.

al-Shabaab controls large areas in these regions of the war torn country. It was also the group which claimed responsibility for the viscous attack on shoppers in Kenya’s Westgate Mall last year which led to the death of 66 Kenyan civilians and soldiers, in response to Kenya military activity in Somalia.

It’s believed that al-Shabaab is trying to restrict government communications in the area.

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