The Somali Federal government said the ban on importing qat (miraa)from Kenya, which was suspended several months ago, is still inforce and it has not changed its position on the same. Despite restoring diplomatic relations, Somali officials say they won’t lift ban on Miraa.
A statement from the Somali Civil Aviation Authority has informed all Somali airlines that the delivery of Miraa is prohibited in the country, and that the federal government’s policy on bringing Miraa to Somalia has not changed.
The agency says Miraa w brought to Somalia without clearance from the aviation’s regulator will be considered as an illegal act and violation of Somali airspace, until such a time the government can issue a further notice.
The development comes on Thursday, May 6, at a time when the federal government said it had restored diplomatic relations with Kenya.
What led to the rejection of the commodity?
As confirmed to Mustaqbal by some members of the Civil Aviation Agency, Villa Somalia is striving to keep the Somali market in the Horn of Ethiopia, who is close to the trade union of Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.
Mustaqbal Media understands that a type of Miraa from Ethiopia farmers popularly known by Somali locals as Hereeriga is still traded in the markets of Somalia.
Other sources indicate that Somalia’s stand to ban it is informed by the fact that business man Hassan Abdullahi Farmaajo‘s is the sole company dealing with the Hareeriga type of Miiraa from Ethiopia exports to Somalia, an indicator of Monopoly in the trade and President Farmaajo’s demonstration of unwavering support to his Ethiopia ally Abiy Ahmed Ali.
Footages from Nairobi’s Wilson airport that were widely circulated in social media platforms show what appeared to be preparations that were underway to airlift Khat to Somalia on Monday.But Somali officials are insisting the ban on the Miraa flights is still in place.
Mustaqbal Media
