(ERGO) – Behind the scenes at Mohamed’s fast food café run by Somalis with a Saudi connection/Mohamed Khadar/Ergo
Set up with the proceeds from the sale of a phone, Abdikadir Abdirahman Mohamed’s Middle Eastern-style cafeteria in Mogadishu’s Karan district has started to reap life-changing rewards.
Abdikadir, 28, moved to Mogadishu in 2021 from Saudi Arabia where he was born and raised because he could not afford the $3,000 needed to renew his work permit there.
He left his mother and two siblings behind and brought with him some know-how about fast food that has grabbed him a growing customer base.
At first it was just a dream, but after selling the new phone his sister sent him from Saudi Arabia for $90, he began selling potato fries. He managed to save $600 in six months to open a small cafeteria in September 2022.
“I used to wake up at five in the morning and carry five kilograms of potatoes on my head. I couldn’t afford to pay half a dollar to a porter or a tuktuk taxi,” Abdikadir recalled.
“We have become independent now, we pay our own food and bills, we thank God, the business has grown.”
He and his wife were able to move out of his aunt’s small iron-sheet house into ae three-roomed house where they have their privacy and space. He pays the $100 rent from the $50-60 he makes a day from his business.
Having experienced the trials of thanklessly job hunting in Mogadishu for more than six months, Abdikadir has hired four other young people also with backgrounds from Saudi Arabia to cook and run the cafeteria.
Nada Duale Abdi, 22, the only woman, is glad to be earning $300 for her shifts from 2pm to midnight as a cashier-cum-waitress.
“What motivates me to wake up every morning is the income. I am good with customers, I get to help out whenever it’s busy,” she said. She helps support her siblings and father in Mogadishu.
Nada moved to Mogadishu from Saudi Arabia in 2017. Her mother went to Germany as an asylum seeker, and Nada has been left as the breadwinner for her younger siblings.
Mohamed Yusuf Suleiman, 29, also works in the cafeteria.
“Now I thank God because we are at the best place, our bills, rent and living is no longer a concern. I’m very happy with my work,” said Mohamed, who returned from Saudi Arabia in 2018.
“Without an income the burden of paying the bills, including the rent and electricity is too much,” said Mohamed, who is determined to be able to support his family and children independently.
