Published by participants in the  Certificate in Journalism program

of the African Virtual University-Indiana University of Pennsylvania Partnership.

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Taxi drivers in Somaliland enjoying good business

Somaliland

There is one unusual thing about being a taxi driver in  Hargeisa, Somaliland. You can only pick passengers from designated places.

Ali Jama 37,is a taxi driver in Hargeisa. He says he has been in the business
for  a long period.

I met  Jama at a downtown café in  Hargeisa and  interviewed him
about  the taxi  business in the city.

Jama said taxi drivers are enjoying  the best business these days.

“We get a lot  of passengers. In fact the business is good nowadays.” He said with a smile.

He said he has a sizable number of customers he picks  everyday, although he would not give the exact figure.

”Sometimes I have special customers that I pick,” he said without elaborating.

Jama said: “We don't operate like  other taxi drivers in many parts of the world. We  operate from Taxi  stands. We get passengers at this point  unlike the
other cities where taxis operate anywhere in the streets.”

Asked  how much money he gets from his business Jama said taxi drivers charge per distance traveled.

“We charge $50 from the airport which is a bit far, compared to $15 to the hospital,” he said.

He would not give  his daily income.

Jama said taxi drivers  have a good relationship with  the police.

“We obey traffic laws and we do not carry contrabands. We also report suspicious people to the police,” he said.