Grenade attacks and occasional landmine explosions have characterised life in Bakara market, the biggest trading centre not only in Mogadishu but also in whole of Somalia.

The strategic Howl-wadaag junction that lies to the east of the marketplace has experienced the worst mayhem, civilian casualties competing with those of combatants.

While the forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the supporting Ethiopian troops have been the target, the densely populated neighborhood absorbed the brunt of the pandemonium. In the last couple of days, things have slid from bad to worse.

Armed with light arms and explosives, insurgents attack the forces of the TFG keeping surveillance around the Bakara market. The casualties are in most cases enormous, the TFG forces overpowered with losses of lives and properties.

In a recent attack, more than 10 people died including two Ethiopian soldiers.

Soon after the attack, units from the Ethiopian troops moved to the area and the insurgents disappeared into thin air as darkness fell on the city. The TFG brought more reinforcements and at dawn, uniformed men spread in and around the market, looking for insurgents, their weapons and supporters.

The military operation caused the worst inconvenience Bakara market has ever experienced. Customers, dealers and traders mostly stopped venturing into the bazaars, keeping most of the business premises locked. On such raids, furious soldiers loot goods from the businesses and apprehend people considered suspects. Says Mr Ali Mohamed Siyad alias Ali Dheere, the chairman of the Bakara traders’ council: “We have been victimised for the actions of the insurgents.”

In response to Mr Dheere’s complaints, the Governor of Banadir region (Mogadishu and surrounding areas), Mr Mohamed Omar Habeeb alias Mohamed Dheere told of the traders’ complicity with the insurgents. “These merchants are hiding the insurgents and want the hostilities prolonged in order to avoid tax payments and state regulation of businesses.”

The ongoing confrontations in Mogadishu, especially in and around the Bakara market are certainly not good for business. The place which covers over 10 square kilometers, has been the supply route not only for other outlets in Mogadishu but also for the whole of Somalia and even beyond the borders of the war-torn country. It hosts the headquarters of the most formidable corporations in Somalia, including money transfer centres, media houses, communication centres and giant importers and exporters.

“Each time there is confrontation, more and more business people relocate their interests,” said Mr Abshir Qaadiri, a trader who moved his goods out of the troubled market. “People are fast repositioning at other bazaars like Suuq Bacaad in North Mogadishu and Hamar-weyne in the city centre,” Mr Qaadiri added.

Sheikh Mohamud Ibrahim Suley, a spokesman for the Islamic Courts Union, which was ousted from the city a year ago, has claimed his clandestine forces’ responsibility for the latest attacks on the pro-TFG forces around the Bakara market.

On Monday, Somalia’s interim Prime Minister Nur Adde Hassan Hussein admitted that forces loyal to President Abdullahi Yusuf took part in the looting of Bakara market in recent days. The prime minister apologised for the soldiers’ misconduct and promised that they would be punished.

But, According to Mogadishu resident Mahmud Hassan and several other reliable sources in Mogadishu, punishing the soldiers would require the cooperation of President Yusuf.

Mr Hassan and the others say it was soldiers from the president’s Darod clan who looted and destroyed the market, leaving hundreds of thousands of people in the city with no source of income and no place to buy basic goods. “Bakara market has been looted by Abdullahi Yusuf’s clan from Puntland. There is no commerce. There is no business,” he said.

“The largest market in Somalia is closed. Now, food is sold in back alleys and inflation is over 300 per cent. I would not be surprised if you see a human catastrophe in Mogadishu within the next two weeks if things continue like this,’’ he said.