Africa Research Bulletin Sep 15 1990 Vol 27 No 8, pg. 9804-9805 — “Riots in Capital”

The situation in the Somali capital Mogadishu returned to normal on August 11th after the government announced the increase in the fare of transportation. Riots broke out on August 10th in the capital after the government hiked the prices of petrol and diesel without increasing transport fare.

The owners of public vehicles boycotted and most of public vehicles stopped operation.

Angry people, stranded for long time at bus stops, stoned moving cars and blocked some streets with building materials, triggering the unexpected riots in the city.

Armed police moved immediately to quell the riots and gunshots could be heard in many areas from morning till late in the evening.

In response to the riots, the Somali government announced an increase of about 35% of transportation fare and the normal transportation resumed early in the morning of August 11th in the city.

The Somali National Petroleum agency has however, indicated that fuel prices in Somalia would be increased in future since local prices of petroleum products, which are imported with scarce hard currency, are much lower than those in neighboring countries.

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