Demonstrators Protest Puntland Government Inaction Over Inflation

Garowe (PP News Desk) — Hundreds of people today took to the streets of Garowe to protest what they view as “government inaction over inflation”.

Demonstrators gathered in the city centre one day after Puntland State Government lightly regulated the mobile money transfer.

Demonstrators in Garowe protest government inaction over exchange rate-driven inflation.

“The minimum amount of money one can send through mobile phone is unfair. Not everyone can send 1 US$ through mobile money wallets” one female demonstrator said.

“Only wealthy people or staff paid in hard currency can afford to use dollars for transactions” said one female demonstrator.

Puntland businesses interpreted the government decree on the sole use of the US dollar for collecting export-import duties as call to phase out use of the Somali shilling for transactions.

“Only well-off people and staff who are paid in hard currency can afford to use dollars for transactions” another female demonstrator said.

Businesses in the administrative capital of Puntland were closed in protest against the the runaway inflation the resulted in demonstrations in other major Puntland cities such as Galka’yo and Bosaso.

© Puntland Post, 2020