Mogadishu mayor forces bars to close

The mayor of the Somali capital Mogadishu has ordered all nightclubs, bars and restaurants that serve alcohol to close.

The new directive, which entered into force on Saturday, serves the «Security … and the protection of our culture»Mayor Yusuf Jimale announced Monday. He is therefore “negative habits” that affect the dignity of citizens and their religionso ban Jimale.

A video that circulated and was widely shared on social media showed the mayor over the weekend chased guests out of bars with a long stick and sometimes beat them. Eyewitness Ali Yare told a reporter for the local German news agency that he and his friends were beaten in a bar on Saturday by Jimale and his security forces.

The video sparked public outcry with some Somalis welcoming the move, while others described it as “irresponsible”.

Somalia, in the Horn of Africa, is a conservative country where the vast majority of the population identifies as Muslim. Many Islamic countries have low alcohol consumption. However, in Mogadishu, with its approximately 2.5 million inhabitants, there is so far a vibrant nightlife and widespread acceptance of alcohol consumption. (oee/sda/dpa)