The World

Somali food protests

The global food crisis hit Somalia today where thousands of people protested in the capital, Mogadishu, as traders are refusing to sell food for anything except US dollars; Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with reporter Mohammed Olad Hassan in Mogadishu.

(The protests today included some children. What are they saying?) Well they were shouting anti-trader slogans. (What’s at the heart of this?) For the last two days the Somali traders have been refusing to accept Somali bank notes because of a large quantity of newly printed fake money which has created inflation and higher prices. The other problem is the government wants taxes to be paid in US dollars. (Is it that hard to get ahold of US dollars?) Yes. (Is the lack of food that big of a problem as well?) Absolutely and these problems have just added to the wounds. The Somalis are now receiving some help, but the rest are dying with hunger and starvation. The situation is very ugly.