Charcoal Export Continues As Somalia Bans Its Trade

Charcoal Export Continues As Somalia Bans Its Trade

Reports reaching us Lower Jubba region in southern Somalia indicate that a cargo ship has docked at a small port in Burgabo town to transport a charcoal amid ban by UN Security Council and the Somali government.

The ship, chartered by Jubbaland traders was reported to be carrying the charcoal to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates [UAE].

Burgabo is largely controlled by Jubbaland, a Somali Federal member State headquartered in the port city of Kismayo, about 500Km south of Mogadishu.

The town has been the main route for the illegal charcoal exported to the Gulf countries and the nighbouring countries in the past few years, according to the sources.

The export of charcoal from Somalia has been banned, both by a 2012 United Nations Security Council resolution and by the Somali Government, due to its destructive effect on the environment and its exacerbation of conflict and humanitarian crises.

At the opening of a two-day, UN-supported conference on charcoal in Mogadishu, from 7th to 8th May 2018, the Federal Government of Somalia has called for international, African and Gulf States cooperation in halting the illegal export of charcoal from the country.

An estimated 8.2 million trees were cut down for charcoal in Somalia between 2011 and 2017, increasing land degradation, food insecurity, and vulnerability to flooding and drought. Over 80 percent of charcoal produced in Somalia is exported to the Gulf States and neighbouring countries.

Illegal trade in charcoal is recognized as a key contributor to insecurity in Somalia, providing a major source of funding for militias, terrorist groups, and other actors linked to conflict, who illegally tax exports.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Mahdi Mohamed Guled, reaffirmed the Somali government’s commitment to halting illegal trade of charcoal and providing alternative livelihood and energy options. He also called for urgent action and support from the international community and countries that are importing charcoal.

“We need a holistic response to address the issues of charcoal in Somalia. Both the demand and supply side have to be tackled – to do this we need cooperation to implement the UN Security Council Resolution and ensure the environmental, economic and human losses that happen because of illegal charcoal trade are curbed,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

“The environmental destruction brought on by the charcoal trade contributes to drought, flooding, the loss of livelihoods and increase in food insecurity. Together with conflict, this exacerbates the humanitarian situation in Somalia,” said the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Peter de Clercq.

“But due to high levels of poverty in Somalia and lack of opportunities, many are forced to turn to unsustainable and illegal livelihoods, such as charcoal production. The people of this country deserve better”.

Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo, UN Environment Regional Director for Africa, said the regional partnership is key to stopping the unsustainable production, use and export of charcoal in Somalia. “UN Environment and its partners are supporting the Government of Somalia to develop sound policy frameworks to support the ban and find alternatives to charcoal,” she said.

Participants at the event, which concludes today Tuesday 8 May, are expected to develop a concrete roadmap for action, including enforceable regional policies, to halt charcoal trade, as well as its unsustainable production and use within Somalia.

The high-level summit is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Environment, and the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), with funding from Sweden, the European Union, and Italy.

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