The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) has issued a set of conditions for Kenya to fulfill before the ban on miraa is lifted.
Since March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic was first reported in Somalia, President Mohamed Farmaajo’s administration slapped a ban on the miraa trade.
At the time, the government imposed the ban as one of the measures for curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus around the country.
However, it has lifted some of the measures initially imposed in the country since early August.
Nevertheless, the ban on miraa importation, sale, and consumption around the country remains in place.
Early this month, traders from Kenya implored their government to meet with Somali authorities to discuss the issue further.
Now, Mogadishu has issued a set of conditions that Kenya must meet.
First, Nairobi has to treat Mogadishu as its equal. Two, Kenya must stop interfering with its neighbor’s internal affairs and apologize for violating Somalia’s airspace.
Further, Somalia now requires Kenya to allow goods such as milk, honey, meat, sugar, rice, and fish from Somali traders.
Lastly, Kenya has to stop requiring all flights from Somalia to land at Wilson Airport first for inspection before proceeding with their journeys.
Miraa traders from Kenya have now requested their government to accede to Somalia’s request as soon as possible.