Life in Somalia: Mahamut's story

Eight residents of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, tell us what the new government's priorities should be and how they have survived 13 years of anarchy.

Mahamut: Scrap metal worker "I smash the foundations of the US embassy wall to get steel rods to sell" Nimo: Khat dealer "The government should regulate khat - it's bad. I wish I had another job" Abdullahi: Cattle-herder "We were chased off our land by a group who had more weapons than us" Abdi: Refugee "I see a dark future for my children. There are no schools or health services"

Abdidir: Bus driver "We can accept President Yusuf even though he is from northern Somalia" Bashir: Gunman "The gun rules Somalia today - my gun is how I support my family" Halima: Refugee "I am too busy looking for food to think about the peace process" Idi: Singer "Only members of the armed clans can have big parties for their weddings"

Mahamut Issa Abdi

I am 18 years old. I am married with three children. I live in a displaced person's camp not far from here.

I spend all day smashing the foundations of the wall around what was the United States embassy in Mogadishu in order to retrieve the steel rods used to reinforce the concrete.

This hammer is very heavy. If I had a choice, I would do something else

I sell the rods to people who are building new houses.

It's really hard work - and very hot - but it's the only way I can support my family at the moment.

I have been doing this for about three years and have gone 3km around the wall.

I earn 1,000 Somali shillings (6.5 US cents) for each rod. I get about 20 rods a day but I have to give half of them to the gunman who controls the area I work.

He does not control the whole US embassy - just the wall. The embassy grounds have been divided up between about 70 gunmen and people are working for them all.

I have heard that a new Somali president has been elected in Kenya.

I really hope he can come back to Somalia and end this anarchy.

If there is a new government, I would like to go to school and learn something.

This hammer is very heavy and if I had a choice, I would do something else.

But if I could not go to school and had to carry on doing this, at least if there were a government, I would not have to give half the rods to the gunman.

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