Small traders in Berbera's central market are increasingly asking customers to pay by scanning a printed QR code, as mobile money providers promote a faster alternative to typing in phone numbers and merchant codes.

Stallholders selling fruit, household goods and phone accessories said the codes, displayed on laminated cards beside their scales and counters, have shortened queues at the busiest times of day. A trader who runs a small electronics stall said customers previously had to read out or type long numbers, and mistakes sometimes sent money to the wrong account. "Now the customer scans, sees the name of my shop and confirms the amount. It takes a few seconds," he said.

Mobile money is already the most common way to pay for everyday goods in Berbera and across much of the Somali-speaking region, and the QR codes are linked to the same accounts. Traders said provider staff had been visiting the market to register merchants and hand out codes, although some said they were still unsure how disputes over incorrect payments would be resolved.

A local business association said roughly a third of its members had started accepting QR payments in the past six months. Its chairperson said the association was organising short sessions on checking transaction histories and protecting accounts with a PIN, after reports of people trying to trick older traders into revealing codes sent to their phones.

Some shoppers welcomed the change but pointed out that not every customer owns a smartphone that can scan a code. Traders said they continue to accept cash and payments by phone number for those who prefer them.

A lecturer in business studies at a university in the region said the shift could help small businesses keep better records of their sales and, over time, build the kind of financial history lenders look for. Reliable network coverage and clear consumer protection rules would be important if digital payments are to keep growing, the lecturer added.

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