Nairobi — Kenya on Friday announced the reopening of its border with Somalia to facilitate the export of miraa (khat), a stimulant evergreen shrub, ending years of restrictions.

The announcement comes after a request from lobby groups and follows diplomatic engagements between Kenya and Somalia aimed at strengthening cross-border trade.

According to reports by Kenyan local media, the National Security Council Committee approved the resumption of miraa trade at designated border points, including Mandera, Liboi, and Kiunga.

This reopening is specifically for the transportation of miraa by road to Somalia.

Kenyan officials hailed the development as a "major win" for farmers and traders in miraa-growing regions, noting the move will help restore livelihoods disrupted by previous border closures.

The Kenya-Somalia border has been in a phased reopening process since May 2023, after being closed in 2011 due to threats from al-Shabaab militants.

While initial agreements between Kenya's Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and Somalia's Interior Minister outlined a gradual reopening of key points over 90 days, progress has repeatedly stalled due to renewed security concerns.

Kenya had been exporting roughly 13 to 17 tones of miraa daily to Somalia, generating about 1.85 million US dollars in foreign exchange every four days and supporting over 1.4 million livelihoods across the country.

However, competition from Ethiopia has intensified in recent years.

Ethiopian khat producers, leveraging lower prices and faster supply chains, are feared to erode Kenya's share of the Somali market.

MG/as/APA