Banned charcoal still finds ways into Gulf

KHASAB, Oman: Charcoal from Somalia, which was banned nearly two years ago by the United Nations, is still making its way to markets in the Middle East, frustrating international efforts to cut off a major moneymaker for Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab militants in the Horn of Africa nation.

UN inspectors in recent weeks have sent letters to the governments of Oman and the UAE raising concerns about continued shipments of suspected Somali charcoal into their countries. Inspectors say Somali charcoal shipments have increased since the ban was imposed by the UN Security Council in February 2012.

The Associated Press filmed thousands of bags of charcoal believed to be from Somalia being unloaded from a cargo ship in the isolated Omani port of Khasab and put into trucks to be shipped through the mountains into the UAE.

Charcoal may be a modest product, but it’s a lucrative trade for Al-Shabab. Much of the production happens in Al-Shabab-controlled parts of southern Somalia, according to a July report by UN monitors, obtained by the AP.

Al-Shabab takes a $2 “tax” on each of the estimated 600,000-1 million bags of charcoal loaded every month onto ships at the southern Somali port of Barawe, which the group controls, according to the monitors’ report.

Made from acacia trees, Somali charcoal in prized in Gulf countries because it is slow burning and gives a sweet aroma to grilled meats and to waterpipes.

arabnews.com