Kenyan khat (miraa) traders are angry after reports emerged that Somalia had turned back a plane transporting the precious commodity into Puntland.
The plane was denied entry into Somalia’s semiautonomous region of Puntland after allegedly failing to adhere to COVID-19 restrictions.
This is the second time authorities in Somalia are denying a plane from Kenya permission to land in the country in the last one month.
In early July, Somali authorities turned back another plane from its Horn of Africa neighbor that was transporting over 13 tons of khat.
Reports indicate that the second plane was carrying 11 tons of miraa.
Khat is highly popular in Somalia. However, the government banned miraa trade in March 2020 as one of the measures for curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Authorities classify miraa as a non-essential good. Non-essential goods are excluded from the resumption of international flights that takes place from August 3.
Kimathi Munjuri, the Chairman of Nyambene Miraa Traders Association, protested the latest move. He said the plane had adhered fully to all COVID-19 rules and regulatory frameworks.
He also faulted the government of Kenya for failure to engage with their Somalia counterparts to resolve the issue and lift the ban on miraa trade.