Bosaso Transport Operators Decry Selective Enforcement of the Somali Shilling Policy

[Deeq A.]

Bosaso (PP News Desk) — Bosaso transport operators have accused major businesses in the commercial city of refusing to accept the Somali shilling.

Transport operators turned out in large number at the main square in Bosaso to share their tribulations at the hands of businesses that reject the use of the Somali shilling for transactions.

Transport operators in Bosaso find a fault with inconsistencies in enforcing the Somali shilling policy.

“As bus and mini-bus drivers we accept the Somali shilling from passengers paying their fares. When we try to buy food and other commodities, businesses refuse to accept the Somali shilling. I went to bed hungry last night, unable to buy food with the Somali shilling I have. We cannot buy fuel because fuel sellers demand US dollars for transactions. We cannot operate our transport businesses until the matter is resolved” said a young driver.

A bus driver: “I went to bed hungry last night, unable to buy food with the Somali shillings I have”.

“We call on Puntland Government to enforce the rules consistently across the board. Let us use either the Somali shilling or the dollar for transactions” said another driver.

Last week Puntland Government published measures to enforce the use of the Somali shilling for transactions. Yesterday, Golis, a major telecommunications company in Puntland, introduced an account in its E-wallet to facilitate transactions in the Somali shilling as a part of measures to rein in the depreciation of the Puntland-printed Somali shilling against the dollar.

Bus operators in Bosaso vowed not to return to work unless Puntland Government unforces its monetary policy impartially across the board.

Passengers use the Somali shilling to pay fares. Transport operators in Bosaso are among businesses that adhere to the government rules about the use of the Somali shilling for transactions. Inconsistent application of the government’s monetary policy shows hurdles the government must surmount to have its intervention taken seriously.

Bari regional administration has yet to respond to transport operators’ complaint.

© Puntland Post, 2020

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