With the drug trade restart of Miraa from Kenya this week, there are now challenges to the agreement recently reached by the presidents of the neighboring countries of Somalia and Kenya.
The miraa traders in Kenya have released news, after resuming the export of miraa they bring to Somalia, announcing a new concern facing their business, and so far they have brought about 38 tons of miraa, after two days, last Monday and Tuesday this week.
The Miraa Farmers’ Committee said that they have now faced problems that could hinder the agreement between the two countries.
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
The chairman of the Kenyan miraa traders committee said that now Somalia Taxing of $15 per kilo of miraa to delivered to Somalia, which makes it expensive.
He also pointed out that this is causing a burden on their business, and he added that it also means that they cannot compete with the Ethiopian drug trade.
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
Finally, he called on the two governments to discuss this matter so as not to damage the trade agreement recently reached in Niarobi.
The Kenyan miraa has been ban in Somalia for some time, after a decision by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s government and a dispute with the Nairobi government.
However, the relationship between the governments of Somalia and Kenya has now changed, after the May 15 election win Kenya’s puppet Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud.
United States banned Kenya’s drug miraa Canada, Netherlands, Europe, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Middle East and part of Africa, signifying a shrinking market for Kenya’s drug miraa.
The United Kingdom ban on miraa comes into effect on 24 June 2014 British Parliament’s approval of the Government’s decision to reclassify miraa as a Class C drug.
Read: Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh history of corruption 2012-2017
Miraa-Khat is a drug scientifically known as Catha Edulis and contains chemicals that stimulate blood circulation causing blood pressure. It also inhibits digestive enzymes and stops appetite. It creates hallucination, fantasy and uninterrupted talks. Together with all those harmful effects, it also causes family mental health problems.
Chewing khat miraa leaves has led to infections that can cause problems such as pain below the ribs, changes in white blood cells, and an enlarged liver. Severe side effects include migraine bleeding in the brain heart attack lung problems changes in sex drive.