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Somalia’s resurgent gas sellers

For the first time in more than 20 years, petrol stations have re-opened in Mogadishu to fill empty tanks.

At least half a dozen stations have opened in Mogadishu with cars queuing during rush hour to fill their tanks.

By Mustaf Abdi

Published On 1 Nov 2015

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Mogadishu, Somalia – After more than two decades of bloody civil war that has left tens of thousands of people dead, the guns are slowly falling silent and life is gradually returning to normal in the Somali capital.

Somalis who fled abroad to escape the war are flocking back to the seaside city, bringing with them much-needed investment capital. 

Mogadishu, a city of more than one million inhabitants, is getting a facelift. New buildings are replacing the bullet scared crumbling war relics. New roads are replacing the old pot-holed ones.

And for the first time in more than 20 years, petrol stations have opened in the city to fill the empty tanks of the increasing road traffic.

Business at these new stations is booming. But not everyone is happy with them.

Petrol stations sell their fuel cheaper at $1 per litre compared with $1.20 from the roadside gas vendors.
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With peace returning, gas vendors feel they been squeezed out of the new Mogadishu. They say making a living is harder now than during the war.
The vendors, who are mostly female, are the breadwinners in their families, having lost their husbands in the war.
Fadumo Ahmed supports her family of eight from the meagre income she makes from selling petrol at her street stall. She has been doing this job for the past 19 years.
Asli Shidane has been selling petrol on the Mogadishu streets for 23 years and has sent six of her eight kids to school with her earnings.
Before the arrival of the petrol stations, Fadumo and Asli used to sell as much as 200 litres a day each, but now barely sell 40 litres each.
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Some drivers are loyal to the vendors and refuse to abandon the (***)roadside ladies(***) and are only too happy to pay the extra 20 cents to keep the vendors in business.
For drivers who went to the petrol stations, fuel is not only cheaper but also cleaner, reducing the damage to their vehicles(***) engines.
Some of the new petrol stations also provide car washes and mechanics(***) services, attracting more customers and making it difficult for the (***)roadside ladies(***) to compete.
The gas vendors worry that if nothing is done to regulate the trade they may soon be out of business.