ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTERS

LASANOD (SoOHA) – A village in northern Somalia’s Sool region has banned the use and sale of plastic bags, imposing penalties for offenders. The local administration of Bo’ame village, around 70 km east of Lasanod, announced a ban on plastic bags on 5 March, according to assistant chief area, Ahmed …

NAIROBI (SoOHA) – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Friday warned that drought will worsen in parts of Horn of Africa due to persisting dry conditions and unusually high temperatures. “In some parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia persisting drought is affecting water availability, grazing pastures and food security,” …

LAS ANOD (SOHA) – A clean-up campaign by youth in Hingalol village in northern Somalia’s Sanaag region is fast transforming the once dirty streets and inspiring locals to keep their environment clean. The clean-up launched last month is attracting many volunteers intent on taking responsibility for their environment. Ahmed Bile …

MOGADISHU (SOHA) – Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab rebels are profiting from the illegal trafficking of charcoal exports produced in Somalia and transiting through Iran, United Nations experts said in a report recently shared with the UN Security Council. “The process involved using false Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Ghana certificates of …

BOSSASO (SOHA) – The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization issued a new tropical storm watch Friday for parts of northern Somalia as Storm LUBAN is expected to lead to winds of medium strength with moderate rainfall. According to the alert issued by FAO, the tropical storm that developed in …

MOGADISHU (SOHA) – The Somali government on Monday called on Iraq to launch urgent investigations into a ship carrying 200,000 bags of charcoal smuggled out of the Horn of Africa nation. Somali Ambassador to the United Nations Abukar Osman said the ship, which has docked at the Iraqi port of …

TORONTO (SOHA) – House of Commons Immigration Committee to meet today after increasingly tense month on the issue of asylum claimants Last week a tense meeting between Canada’s federal immigration minister and an Ontario government minister ended in name-calling, an abrupt exit, and demands for an apology. It was all over …

NAIROBI (SOHA) – The UN Security Council has been cautioned against linking peacekeeping troops in Somalia to illegal charcoal and sugar trade without evidence. Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo yesterday told the teams monitoring the peace process against accusing African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) soldier. She said they should …

MOGADISHU (SOHA) – Traders at the main market Mogadishu’s remote Kahda district today woke up to losses after a fire razed down property worth thousands of US dollars. Smoke billowing from the newly established market could be seen covering a section of the city as firefighters fought their way in to …

The Somali group al-Shabaab, known for deadly attacks on thousands of people across east Africa, has banned plastic bags because of the threat they pose to the environment. Al-Shabaab’s radio station, Radio Andalus, broadcast news of the ban was announced on Sunday, saying discarded plastic bags “pose a serious threat …