GAROWE, Puntland — Puntland Finance Minister Mohamed Farah Mohamud has attracted public attention after footage circulated on social media showing him travelling in a Bajaj, a three-wheeled vehicle that has become one of Somalia’s most recognisable forms of urban public transport.
The video has prompted speculation about why the senior government official opted for the small passenger vehicle, which is commonly used by commuters seeking relatively affordable transport across towns and cities.
However, Puntland Times could not independently establish the circumstances surrounding the minister’s journey, including where he was travelling, whether the ride was connected to official duties or whether he had chosen the vehicle for personal reasons.
Farah Mohamud’s appearance in the Bajaj has drawn attention partly because government ministers and other senior officials are often associated with official vehicles and private cars, making the sight of a finance minister using public transport an unusual moment for observers.
How Bajaj became a familiar sight in Somalia
Bajajs, also known as tuk-tuks or motorised rickshaws in other countries, have become an important part of Somalia’s urban transport system, particularly in Mogadishu.
According to a report published by Somali Signal in March 2023, the three-wheelers first appeared on Somali roads around 2013 and subsequently expanded rapidly, becoming one of the most preferred means of travelling within the capital.
The vehicles gained popularity partly because they can navigate narrow streets and poorly maintained roads while offering passengers a more direct journey than conventional public transport.
Unlike minibuses, locally known as caasi, Bajajs can pick up passengers closer to their homes or destinations, including in neighbourhoods that larger vehicles may struggle to serve.
A World Bank report on Somalia’s urban transport system similarly describes the three-wheelers as a relatively new addition that challenged the dominance of minibuses by providing more individualised journeys and connecting neighbourhoods that previously had limited transport links.
Their relatively low fares have also helped make them accessible to a broad section of urban commuters, including workers and other residents who need to travel short distances without paying for a private taxi.
The people who depend on Bajajs for their livelihoods
Beyond transporting passengers, Bajajs have become a source of income for thousands of Somalis, particularly young men seeking employment in a country where access to formal jobs remains a challenge.
A study conducted by the Somali Researchers Association and Oalam College, published in 2020, examined the experiences of 400 Bajaj drivers in Mogadishu. It described the vehicles as one of the capital’s most popular forms of transport and highlighted their importance as a livelihood for young drivers.
The study estimated that approximately 35,000 Bajajs were operating in Mogadishu at the time. A separate report by Somali Signal in March 2023 cited an estimate of around 40,000 vehicles in the capital, attributed to the minister of transport and civil aviation.
These figures relate to different reporting periods and should not be treated as a current count of all Bajajs operating across Somalia.
For drivers, the vehicles provide an opportunity to earn daily income by ferrying passengers between residential areas, markets, workplaces and other destinations. Some operators work for vehicle owners, while others may operate vehicles they own or have acquired through financing arrangements.
The sector also faces difficulties, including fuel costs, traffic congestion, road safety concerns and fluctuations in passenger demand. In March 2026, Reuters reported that rising fuel prices had forced some drivers in Mogadishu to park their vehicles because higher fares were discouraging passengers.