At least 21 well-known businessmen were arrested by the al-Shabaab militant group after they tried to move their businesses back to Mogadishu from Elasha Biyaha, an al-Shabaab controlled area 15 km south of Mogadishu.
Many of the businessmen fled to Elasha Biyaha from Mogadishu to escape the fighting between the insurgents and government forces backed by African Union peacekeepers.
''Yes, al-Shabaab arrested 21 businessmen who wanted to move back to Bakara market," a resident in Elasha Biyaha told Somalia Report in a condition of anonymity, referring to Somalia's largest market located in the heart of Mogadishu.
Tens of thousands families are returning to Mogadishu after the government took back control of the capital, with the exception of Daynile district, and reopened Bakara market.
Muhidiin Hassan Yaqshid, the governor of Yaqshid District, told Somalia Report that approximately 40,000 internally displaced people returned to Yasqshid, Hodan, Karan and others districts of Mogadishu using donkey carts, lorries, buses, and motorbikes or walking.
''Yes, since we pushed out al-Shabaab from most of Mogadishu, people are beginning to move back to their homes. We know al-Shabaab are forcing civilians to stop returning home, because they want to use civilians as human shields," said the governor.
Local residents were please to return after being displaced for years.
''We are very happy to return our home after three years in Elasha Biyaha. I am glad to be now at my home. May Allah bless our Somali soldiers who defended us from al-shabaab's harassment," said Fatumo, a returnee.