KUWAIT ( Halbeeg News) – The state of Kuwait announced the ban on charcoal import from Somalia on Sunday.
According to Kuwait daily newspaper, Al Rai, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced the decision saying it banned Somali coal export from the market.
“The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has brought to the attention of the concerned officials in the ministry to tighten control over the markets and ban the import of Somali coal,” the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.
“The money earned from coal export may be indirectly used in financing terrorist activities.” the statement added.
The Kuwaiti government officials further pointed out that the ban of import comes in the framework of the efforts of the United Nations to dry up the financial resources that fuel crime.
A letter issued by the United Nations, the copy of which has been received by the ministry, says the revenues from the export of Somali coal are used to finance terrorist acts, or benefit terrorists, directly and indirectly.
UN Monitoring group on Somalia annual report has repeatedly revealed how charcoal trade is fueling terror activities in the horn of the African state.
The monitoring group has also exposed close cooperation between al-Shabaab and Kenya troops based in the port city on the charcoal trade a claim denied by Kenya officials.
The product which led to massive deforestation is exported to gulf states such as UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia for energy.
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