Somalia imposes Kenyan khat import ban

Somalia’s ban on Kenyan flights carrying the herbal stimulant khat has come into force, with no explanation as to why or how long it will be in place.

But the semi-autonomous region Puntland region is among some federal states defying the ban.

Khat is popular in Somalia but it is grown in Ethiopia and Kenya.

Hundreds of Kenyans, including farmers, could be affected by the decision, which has been criticised for coming without any warning.

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BBC Somali Service editor Farhan Jimale says it is equivalent to a major city like London banning imports of alcohol overnight.

But as khat has to be taken fresh, there are no stockpiles.

The planes from Kenya arrive in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, in the morning and the leafy stimulant, which is not cheap, is usually chewed after lunch, mainly by men, in the afternoon and into the evening.

The BBC’s Ahmed Aden in Mogadishu says Civil Aviation Minister Ali Ahmed Jangali, who announced the ban on Monday, did not give a reason for the suspension, which is understood to be temporary.

He denied that it was because Somalia was hosting a meeting on Saturday for the regional body, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad).

Workers at a khat-exporting company in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, were told not to report to work on Monday.

The Kenyan government has in the past pledged to support the growers of khat, which is also known as miraa in Kenya, after it was banned in much of Europe.

Khat is also banned in a number of other countries, including the US and Canada.

Khat – its effects and risks

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• The two main stimulants in khat speed up the user’s mind and body, like a less powerful amphetamine
• It makes people happy and talkative but can cause insomnia and temporary confusion
• Chewed for a few hours it leaves users with a feeling of calm, described by some as “blissed out”
• The drug could make pre-existing mental health problems worse and it can provoke feelings of anxiety and aggression
• It can also inflame the mouth and damage teeth, and there are concerns about the long-term risk of mouth cancers.

Source: Talk to Frank