By AGGREY MUTAMBO
In Summary
The Somali government has said it imposed a ban on
miraa imports from Kenya because Meru Governor Peter Munya had "used the
business to campaign for the breakup of the country."
On Tuesday evening, Somali Ambassador to Kenya Gamal Hassan
said Mr Munya's visit to Hargeisa in July had caused political pressure
back in Somalia to have the trade stopped.
"He linked the territorial integrity of the country
to the Miraa trade and interfered in the internal affairs of the
country," he told the Nation.
"This has created a lot of unbearable pressure on
the government. We have suspended the trade to have these matters
addressed," he added.
On Monday, Somalia announced it will no longer allow flights from Kenya carrying Miraa, most of which is grown in Meru County.
In July, Mr Munya had travelled to Hargeisa, the
capital of Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland to lobby for easier
trade rules for miraa exporters in Kenya in exchange for some form of
recognition for Somaliland.
While there, he met with Deputy President of Somaliland Abdurrahman Ishmael, the foreign affairs minister and finance minister.
But Mogadishu said Mr Munya's reported comments on
the probable independence of Somaliland angered officials and
politicians keen to have one united Somalia.
Mr Hassan told the Nation his government is discussing the issue with the relevant Kenyan authorities to find an amicable solution.
Kenya sends about 540 planeloads of miraa to Somalia every month.
The ban could cause millions in losses, especially
since Somalia was the last standing market for Kenya following bans in
the UK and in the Netherlands several years earlier.
This story was first published on Nation.
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