• The two airlines are Buff Air Services and Silverstones Air Services.
• On March 23, Federal Government of Somalia banned miraa imports from Kenya and Ethiopia initially for 15 days.
Somalia has revoked licenses for two Kenya airline companies for allegedly smuggling miraa declared as “medical supplies” into the country.
The airlines are also accused of violating Covid19 restrictions as Somalia has banned all international flights, including cargo, as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Kenya has also closed its borders with Somalia because of increased cross-border infections of the coronavirus.
The two airlines are Buff Air Services and Silverstones Air Services. According to Somali government sources, one of the Kenya miraa flights landed at Buhodle town airstrip on May 26, while the second flight landed in Jawhar town on May 31.
On March 23, Federal Government of Somalia banned miraa imports from Kenya and Ethiopia initially for 15 days.
“We want to also inform all the authorities at the entry points of the khat in our country and those who export khat that they have to realise that it is not time for khat chewing,” Mohamed Abdullahi Omar, the Somali federal minister of Air Transport and Civil Aviation, said at an event on March 24, during which authorities burned 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of khat.
Somalia’s Covid19 cases reached 2,089 on Tuesday after 66 new infections were reported from Banadir (33), Somaliland (26) and Puntland (7).
Death toll remains at 79 as no new fatality was reported in the last 24 hours, while total recoveries are 380.
