Crime-related Challenges Faced by Small-scale Women Traders Case of Mogadishu.

Abstract

Women across societies have played an empowering role in the reduction of poverty. Such is the case of women in Somalia who, despite the many decades of internal conflict and diminished growth strive to engage and sustain small-scale trades as livelihood for the family. However, women face significant challenges due to the constant presence of criminal gang activities in their trading environments. The impact of these criminal gangs extends far beyond the immediate threats posed on the small-scale trades. The impact affects the livelihoods, safety, and overall well-being of women traders. This situation threatens the economic sustainability of these women and predisposes gender-based vulnerabilities. There was a need to examine and understand the extent to which criminal activities derail and impact women’s small-business in Mogadishu. The specific aim of this study was to establish crime-related challenges experienced by small-scale women traders in Mogadishu; to investigate how the crime-related challenges impact the women small-scale trade in Mogadishu; and to understand how the women small-scale traders cope with crime challenges faced. The study was guided by theory of social disorganization and utilized exploratory design. The sample size constituted 263 respondents and 8 key informants. Both stratified proportionate sampling and purpose techniques were utilized. The study used both a structured questionnaire and an interview guide to collect data from the women traders and key informants. Data was analyzed using SPSS, and presented in form of charts, graphs and tables. The results on crime-related challenges experienced by small-scale women traders in the face of criminal gangs in Mogadishu revealed that most of the women traders at 76% (n = 169) had been victims of crime with most common forms of crime being extortion, coercion to pay for protection money, destruction of property, arsonist attacks and threats. Though most women traders were victim of criminal activities from criminal gangs; majority of women traders at 76% (n = 169) did not report the crime to police for fear of being victimized. On the coping mechanism used by women traders in Mogadishu the results indicated that most of the women traders often pay for security protection money to criminal gangs that significantly increase the cost of doing business as seen in the following figure. Some of them re-located to other safer regions. Most had lost confidence with police department and justice system as they had failed to provide sufficient remedies to their plights. The results indicated that most of women had incurred huge loses through arsonist attacks or destruction of business property especially when they do not yield to the demands of the criminal gangs. A few of those who sought justice from the courts incurred lot of litigation costs yet justice was never realized. Majority of the women traders in Mogadishu collectively acknowledge that crime is prevalent in their business environment and have severely affected their source of livelihoods. Most of the respondents perceived the law enforcement as weak, ineffective, inadequate and compromised to enforce criminal justice law to those seeking legal remedies on criminal activities in Mogadishu. In light of threats from criminal gangs and low-level education among the women traders, the study recommends establishment of support system for the women. In light of weak and ineffective law enforcement agencies there should be establishment of community policing programs to protect women traders. Further research to be conducted in this area to shade more light on the plight of women in small-scale business