Somalia: Federal Government ban on Khat linked to interference of Kenyan politicians

Mogadishu, Somalia – Somali Federal government ban on Kenya’s Khat was blamed upon an earlier visit by Kenyan politicians to the self-declared republic of Somaliland.

On Monday Somalia has banned Kenya’s Khat planes from entering its airspace without giving any reasons. According to the Somali Ambassador to Kenya, Gamal Hassan, who spoke to Kenyan local media on Tuesday said that Kenyan politician visit to the Somaliland’s capital of Hargeisa, in July had caused a stir in Mogadishu.

The Ambassador indicated that the Somali’s directive was in retaliation to the visit by Governor Peter Munya of Meru County and other politician to Hargaisa. Kenyan politicians have met Somaliland’s Vice President, Foreign Minister and Finance Minister. Their visit aimed to persuade Somaliland government to lift trade barriers for Kenyan “Miraa” exports to Somaliland in exchange for some form of recognition for Somaliland by the Kenyan government. Kenyan Miraa is charged 300 per cent duty by Somaliland customs while the Ethiopian Khat is charged 100 per cent duty, which makes it impossible for the Kenyan traders to compete in the Somaliland market.

Reliable sources told GO that the reason behind the ban is linked to the strain relations between Somali leader and Kenyan government and their reluctant support towards his reelection bid in the upcoming election.

Somali President Hasan Shaikh Mahmoud has indirectly criticized the presence of Kenya Defense Forces in Jubaland region in several occasions and has called to replace them with other neutral troops. The President and his close allies have also blamed Kenya for standing against his bid to interfere in the state formation process of Jubaland administration, a process he was utterly against it in the past, the source added.

The Somali President also detested the welcoming of former Somali Transitional Federal Government President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, by Kenyan Ministers and member of Parliaments, said the source.

Ahmed has a good relations with Kenyan government and is believed he will announce his candidacy in the forthcoming Somali Presidential election in the coming days. Former TFG President for the second time will run against the incumbent President in the Somali elections 2016, after losing in 2012 Presidential election.

GAROWEONLINE