Somalia has its first ATM, installed in the capital city of Mogadishu, but some locals are confused, having never seen one before.
On Twitter, users said people were taking pictures of the ATM, curious as to how it got there and what it did. The machine was placed inside of a hotel by Salaam Somali Bank, the BBC reports, and dispenses U.S. dollars; Somalia's national currency, the shilling, isn't worth much, and many businesspeople use dollars instead. "We may add other international currencies in the future," says Said Abukar, a spokesman for Salaam Somali Bank. "People from the diaspora and foreigners have welcomed the move with enthusiasm. We are planning to install more ATMs in Mogadishu."
Using Visa, MasterCard, and American Express cards, people can withdraw money from international bank accounts. A visitor from the U.K., Omar Hassan, told the BBC he had stayed in Mogadishu longer than originally planned, and ran out of funds. He "couldn't believe his luck" when he heard about the ATM, and said it was a "big step forward" for the country.
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