Khat traders from Somalia and Kenya continue to count huge financial losses as diplomatic relations between their respective nations flounder.
Kenyan traders have been unable to export their khat (miraa) to Somalia since March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic broke in the region.
At first, Somalia placed a temporary ban on all flights, which the traders rely on to export khat to the East African nation.
However, when the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) lifted the ban, its restrictions on the sale and distribution of khat, especially from Kenya remained in place.
Since then, khat traders from the two nations have endured massive financial losses.
Several traders from Kenya confirmed that the Somali government had blocked the importation of khat from their country for the last 10 months.
They further claim that the situation has only made it impossible for them to earn from their livelihoods.