Growth, Uncertainty for Khat Exports in Horn of Africa
Khat
Earlier this month, Somalia placed a temporary ban on khat imports from Kenya without any official explanation. The poorly-understood decision caused strong criticism from several of Somalia’s regions. The ban also angered khat growers and dealers in neighboring countries who have had to watch their excess crops wilt away. The ban was lifted on September 14 after East African Leaders met in Mogadishu for an Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit. Although the ban was only in place for about a week, the temporary crisis sheds light on the importance of one of the region’s fastest growing industries.
Khat is a plant that grows in the Horn of Africa as well as throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Historically, different tribes and communities from these areas have grown and used the plant as a stimulant. Chewing khat is said to raise alertness and energy levels. It is a social custom that dates back centuries, even predating coffee. Ancient Egyptians consumed khat leaves ceremoniously, and Sufis used it to assist in meditative practices and to intensify mystical experiences.
Today, khat chewing has evolved into a more mainstream practice; an estimated5 to 10 million people regularly use the plant. University students in Ethiopia for instance use it as a study aid. Exporting countries have increased their cultivation of the plant as demand increases both regionally and internationally.
Despite its cultural history and growing use in the Horn and Arabian Peninsula region, khat is regarded as a harmful drug in the western world. The WHO classifies it as “a drug of abuse that can produce mild to moderate psychological dependence (less than tobacco or alcohol).”
Although khat has not been directly linked to adverse medical effects, its use has been criminalized in most of Europe and North America. Despite significant opposition from MPs and the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, the UK joined the ranks of other western nations in criminalizing the use of khat in 2014. Concerns that khat was preventing Somali communities from integrating, as well as fears of khat profits benefiting East African extremist group al-Shabab, provided the impetus for the imposition of the ban. The UK’s decision effectively reduced the estimated £15m revenue African exporters generated per year from the trade. Exporting towns suffered from the economic downturn and now depend heavily on regional markets, especially trade to Somalia.
In recent years, the global use of khat has grown exponentially, although the general ambiguity of khat’s legality has limited its global commodification. The growth of regional exports could be promising for the economies of source countries, but the possibility of further bans presents a serious threat to the financial stability of khat growing communities. Kenyan traderslost millions of dollars over the weeklong ban earlier this month. For communities dependent on profits generated from khat exports, the uncertainty of the product’s legality in current markets will remain a looming source of fear.