The Hezb al-Islam militias which control large parts of Somalia have issued a ban on video games.

The Islamist militias say the games endanger social cohesion. An earlier ban on watching DVDs has made playing video games hugely popular among young Somalians. A large number of cheap gaming arcades have sprung up in the capital Mogadishu. The arcades have been ordered to close their doors.

In the past few months, the Islamist militias have launched a crackdown on all forms of recreation they consider un-Islamic. The banned activities include dancing and playing football.

Photo: Flickr / thehoneybunny