Somalia lifts Khat ban to boost trade relations with Kenya

Miraa traders in Maua town. FILE PHOTO | NMG

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The federal republic of Somalia has improved ties with Kenya after years of turmoil, just moments after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud officially took over on Thursday in a ceremony graced by a number of Heads of States and governments from the continent.

On Friday, a senior Kenyan announced that the Horn of Africa nation had agreed to lift the ban imposed on Khat, locally known as Miraa. The ban was implemented almost two years ago, following strained diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries.

During the inauguration on Thursday, outgoing Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the ceremony, signifying improved ties between the two countries following the change of leadership in Mogadishu. Former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is accused of triggering the fallout.

For years, Somalia has been battling with Kenya over a maritime border dispute, leading to a landmark ruling last year which largely favored the Horn of Africa nation. However, Kenya was quick to dismiss the ruling by the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

Peter Munya, Kenya's Agriculture minister, announced that the East African country will start exporting Khat to Somalia after two years of suspension. The narcotic drug is widely used within Somalia as a mild stimulant drug.

According to Munya, the agreement between the two countries will be ready for signing within the next two weeks. Previously, aircrafts ferrying Khat to Somalia were locked out by the space agency which was under strict instructions from Villa Somalia.

The ban imposed in March 2020 led to a loss of more than 50 tonnes of Kenyan khat a day valued at around six million shillings [$50,000], according to Kimathi Munjuri, chairman of the Nyambene Miraa Traders Association in central Kenya, the Associated Press reports.

Somalia has been having a frost relationship with Kenya but the tension was minimized when the outgoing Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble visited Nairobi where he held talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta over deteriorating ties.

"A peaceful and prosperous Federal Republic of Somalia is the dream of every Kenyan," Kenyatta said at Mohamud's inauguration.

"Your brothers and sisters in Kenya look forward to working with you so that we can all benefit economically and prosper together."

Kenyan exports to Somalia of 13 billion shillings [over $110 million] accounted for nearly five percent of its total exports to African countries in 2021, according to government data released last month.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had pledged to ensure the economy of the country is up and running following years of mismanagement under Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. The president also pledged to work with other stakeholders to improve security within the country.

GAROWE ONLINE