Culture

Somali Militants "Order" Telecoms to Shut Down Mobile Internet Over Concerns About US Targeting

Local telecoms a Somali success story

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Reason

Terrorists in Somalia are trying to shut down mobile access to the Internet over fears the US will use the technology to target them.

From the AP:

Somalia's al-Qaida-linked militant group has ordered telecom companies to shut down mobile internet services over fears the U.S. can use the data to target militants.

Al-Shabab this week set a 15-day deadline for the telecoms, whom the group accused of being ''enemy collaborators.'' The two affected mobile operators that offer 3G data service declined to comment.

The telecom industry was a Somali success story, even, or especially, before the re-formation of a government last year.

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