Somalia’s Islamist insurgent groups, Hizbul Islam and Al-Shabaab have warned Mogadishu residents over usage of newly printed Somali currency that government wants to populate in the near future.

Ma’alin Hashi Mohammud Farah, Hizbul Islam’s governor in Mogadishu said they will punish whoever is caught using or carrying the currency, adding that fighters have been deployed in the government-controlled areas to investigate the usage of the currency. 

“We are warning Mogadishu residents, wherever they are, against using the currency, if anybody is caught with it, they will face consequences.” He added, “Our fighters have been instructed to punish anyone found with the money.”

Al-Shabaab’s spokesman Mohammud Ali Raghe aka Ali Dhere said the money in circulation is meant to con the people of their properties.

The new currency is meant to defraud people’s properties, we will block its circulation in our areas and we have also warned the people against using it,” he said.

The warning comes after reports emerged that the UN-backed Somali government is planning to bank roll millions of new Somali shillings that were printed in foreign countries.

In Puntland, in the country's northeast state, the regional administration has already stated that it would not allow the circulation or the usage of the currency in the areas under its control.

Somalia has had no effective central government for nearly two decades current transition government operates under the mercy of African Union peacekeeping troops, which control only the capital’s seaport, airport and Presidential Palace.

GAROWE ONLINE