Street lighting brings back night life in Mogadishu

Lack of security and dark nights at the central business district in Mogadishu for years confined business between sunlight and sunset but with new lighting systems, Mogadishu is now bustling even at midnight.

Shops, restaurants among a range of other business ventures along the often busy Maka al Mukarama Streets now operate till late night while shoppers do not have to worry about getting items they need at night.

For shopper and business community alike, the street lighting has made life easy and boosted sales and revenues. With lighting and presence of many people in town at night, security is major dividend.

“The lighting has eased movement and boosted business in the city. This has also encouraged many people to shop at night, something which people could not do when the city was dark,” a trader operating along Maka al Mukarama Street who did not want to be named told Goobjoog TV.

Something unheard of some years back, many people can be seen taking tea in street kiosks at 9pm while shoppers move in and out of supermarkets and restaurants. For Asha Geedir, the former chair of Somali Women Association, the well-lit city streets is a transformative story of a city once weighed down by collapsing infrastructure.

“For sure this is very positive change and it is a very beautiful expression of of peace in the country. I was here when public utilities were barely functioning in Mogadishu,” Geedir told Goobjoog TV at midnight along Maka al Mukaram Street. “You would pass by these streets running in fear but I am happy I can board a car from Kaaran district and go where I want like Jazeera an time. With this change, we are now coming up to be like other countries in the world.”

The city administration has installed solar panels which tapped energy from the sun to light the city streets cutting off regular electricity costs and promoting clean energy consumption.

Mohamud Omar Ali, the head of the lighting system and team go round the city every night to ensure all lights are functional while fixing the faulty ones.

“Our teams operate all the lighting operate from the airport areas to downtown Mogadishu to ensure all lights are functional,” said Ali.