RRA cracks down on charcoal traders

The authorities of the self-declared autonomous region of South West State of Somalia, have over the past two weeks apprehended over a dozen trucks transporting charcoal, a senior police officer in the regional capital, Baidoa, told IRIN on Thursday. "In the past two weeks we arrested 14 trucks loaded with charcoal, and their crews." The arrests were made after the traders had "ignored repeated warnings to stop their activities".

The authorities were not banning all charcoal trade, but "only the charcoal meant for export", a business source in Baidoa, 240 km northwest of Mogadishu, told IRIN. "The problem is how you differentiate charcoal meant for local consumption and that meant for export," the source said.

All the trucks were loaded with charcoal and heading for Mogadishu when they were apprehended between Bur Hakaba, 60 km northeast of Baidoa, and Baidoa, said the officer. "They are currently being held at Labtan Jirow." He said all those found aboard would probably be brought before a court very soon.

The truck owners were likely to face stiff fines "this time around, but will probably lose their vehicles if they are caught again", said the business source.

Trade in charcoal, known to many as Somalia’s black gold, assumed its importance during the past decade of civil war. Almost all the charcoal goes to the Gulf states and Saudi Arabia, where a bag of it fetches about US $10, Somali business sources told IRIN.

Stopping the trade would not be easy, and would require the cooperation of the Arab countries as well as that of the Somali business community, the sources said. Enforcement of a charcoal ban by any Somali authority would also depend on the ability of the various Somali authorities to cooperate and to set up an effective justice system.