Somalia’s federal government has lifted the one-year-long ban on miraa imports from Kenya. It has, however, imposed certain conditions for the commodity to be admitted in the country. This means that traders must obtain import licences from the government as well as pay the appropriate duties.
Somalia had stopped the importation of miraa when international flights were suspended last year due to fear of the spread of COVID-19. But, when international air travels resumed, miraa importation from Kenya was still restricted while that from Ethiopia, a slightly different variety, was allowed in the country.
At that time, the federal government gave Kenya five conditions ahead of lifting the blockade of miraa imports. The demands included:
- Kenya must treat them as an equal
- Kenya must desist from interfering with their internal affairs,
- Kenya must apologise for violating its airspace
- Kenya must allow in goods including fish, rice, sugar, honey, meat and milk
- Kenya must stop forcing flights from Somalia to make a detour to Wajir for inspection
Meanwhile, efforts to look for an alternative market in Djibouti are yet to bear fruits.
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