Updated: August 3rd, 2022

Ban All khat Flights from All Sources to Somalia

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
& Health Minister Dr. Fawziya Abikar Nur
Jamhuria Road, Mogadishu – Somalia
P.O. Box 66

Dear Leaders of Somalia,

We, as the Somali community, are petitioning in support of anti-khat initiatives and campaigns. So far, this petition has gained 49, 595 views, 4, 218 shares, 7, 000 signatures 80+ comments.  We are demanding that the current government of Somalia to ban direct khat flights from Kenya and Ethiopia. Despite our petition reaching the government of Somalia directly, khat flights from Kenya to Somalia have been allowed to resume.  Our goal was to the current Government  to Ban Ethiopian khat flights as well and to not resume an already banned khat source. We implore the current Somali Government to permanently ban the import of khat and issue legislations to mitigate the risk for the vulnerable population. Unregulated khat imports into the country, particularly khat flights, which reach deeper and faster into the heart of the country, are impacting many aspects of the citizens’ lives: mental health, economy, family functions, and Somali children’s welfare.

As you know, the COVID-19 lockdown had naturally created the ideal conditions to wean the highly addictive substance(khat) off those affected by its consumptions. Since the start of global pandemic and the ensuing Kenya khat flight cancellations, most Somalis have not consumed it; thus, biologically, their bodies have passed the withdrawal phase of addiction to khat. Therefore, it is extremely critical that the current government to capitalize on these beneficial opportunities and readiness of the public to ban khat for good and maintain the existing polices to ban khat export to Somalia.

Khat cannot survive in the grueling land transportation, but direct flights are the biggest barrier to control because of their fast, far, and deep reach into the heart of the country in matter of hours, and our government needs to take accountability to protect public health. Allowing business as usual will continue to endanger our public health, complicate precarious food security, and hinder measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 to an already vulnerable population. Moreover, khat consumption creates a context of social gatherings in small spaces with poor ventilation, and it also deteriorates the health of the consumer by lowering his/her immune system.

According to the 2019 data from Anti-khat campaign initiatives spearheaded by Abukar Awale, on average, 3,330 large sacs (Some 15 cargo planes) full of fresh khat arrive daily from Kenya are distributed to 11 cities in Somalia by direct flights excluding Somaliland region (which is mainly supplied by Ethiopia). The net benefit to the Kenyan (drug) dealers is $450,000 US dollars per day. Annually, it is $1 642,500,000 billion US dollars in revenue for Kenya. There is minimal tax revenue gained, $85,000, nor are these gains sufficient for reinvestment into the impacted communities. There are also no legislations in place to regulate khat in Somalia for harm reduction purposes. There is a high cost for the society, such as food insecurities, decreased productivity, and poor health outcomes. The money used to buy khat could have circulated within the country, improve the Somali citizens' quality of life, and provide economic stimulus desperately needed. This is just a cost-effective glimpse of khat coming from Kenya. The Ethiopia khat has more severe psychosis and has deeper detrimental health effects due to harmful pesticide use.

Since the banning of Kenyan khat flights, the locals are already experiencing the economic windfall and other health benefit. People are resorting to investing in their local sale of fruits and vegetables. Many people also quit chewing khat. Indeed, a win for this society for this unexpected beneficial health impact. Most importantly, less exposure to COVID-19 infection. Thereby, are advocating ban of khat from all sources.

Khat import came to a halt during the current Coronavirus pandemic, which had been a blessing in disguise for the Somalis, and to the chagrin of those who exploited the addiction to khat. Given the re-opening of international flights, Kenya and Ethiopia will pressure the new Somali government to resume the khat import. It is the role of any Somali Government to promote health, prevent injuries, and protect the public health using upstream policies and putting mechanisms in place to safeguard public health. We want peace and improved quality of life for our citizens, and we demand concrete actions. Khat drug import to Somalia is a huge barrier to the protection of our vulnerable populations’ health who at risk or inflicted with its addiction. Unfortunately, Khat consumption contributes to the family breakdown in our society, and it increases morbidity & mortality. The most significant negative impact of khat on families is that it increases food insecurities by diverting money that could have been used to lower the rising cost of food and counteract global inflation rates compounded by the recurrent famine in Somalia. If our government cares about the impact of famine, please ban khat flights.

We also want the government to put programs in place to address addiction and mental health. We need school curriculums to provide educations related to mental, addiction, and illicit substance abuse. We need government-funded addiction and rehabilitation centers to help those affected. We need skills and trade schools for our young adults.

We demand our government to use the expertise and the available research to create sustainable change to support the khat ban. We also want the government to put in place mechanisms of public health measures to help with prevention, addiction treatments, and the investigation of addiction's underlying causes.

So far, it has been a success to ban Kenyan khat flights, but we are noticing the unintended impact of Ethiopia khat filling the vacuum left by the ban of Kenyan flights. Anti-khat advocates are demanding the ban of khat and khat flights regardless of source. Moreover, we are also demanding tight enforcement to fight the illegal sources of khat entry into the country including land/sea.

This petition is independently initiated by a Somali woman with Master of Public Health degree in support of the Anti-Khat initiatives. We plan to have it read/presented to the Parliament of Somalia. It will be hand delivered by Abukar Awale. It is the biggest petition signed by the largest number of Somalis. Thank you very much on behalf of all Somalis who signed this petition.

Kind Regards

H. Mohamed