Mogadishu(SD)-The Minister of Finance of the Federal Government of Somalia, Abdirahman Duale Beyle, has confirmed that the government does not have the ability to stop Al-Shabaab from collecting taxes.

“The government does not have the power to prevent al-Shabaab from collecting taxpayers money, and the people who collect al-Shabaab taxes maneuver in the city freely,” Minister Beyle said of the taxes that businessmen pay to Al Shabab in Mogadishu.

“The problem is Al-Shabaab is a Somali like us, they look like us, where they are always within us.” He said.

A recent report by the Washington Post also says al-Shabaab is making money from collecting taxes directly from businesses in the country.

Millions of dollars in Taxes are believed to be paid to al-Shabaab, by businesses in Somalia every year, and this has given the group it’s strength to remain, despite the support of foreign allies in attacks on Al Shabab officials and fighters.