A report by a team of United Nations monitors has alleged that the Kenya Defence Forces assigned to the African Union Mission (AMISOM) in Somalia are not enforcing a ban on charcoal exports by the Al-Shabaab.
The report further states that the KDF deployed at Kismayu and Buur Gaabo are not assisting Somali authorities to curb illegal charcoal exports.
This, in turn, has enabled the militia group to comfortably finance its activities due to the huge proceeds from the illegal trade.
[caption caption="Al-Shabaab Militia"]
[/caption]
“AMISOM, whose Kenyan Defence Forces contingents remain deployed at the ports of Kismayu and Buur Gaabo, has neither assisted the Somali authorities in implementing the charcoal ban nor facilitated Monitoring Group access to charcoal exporting ports,” reads part of the report.
According to the UN monitors, Al Shabaab makes at least Sh1 Billion a year by shipping charcoal from ports in southern Somalia where KDF units are stationed.
In 2016, the UN's Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group stated that Kenyan troops assigned to AMISOM were receiving Sh200 per bag of charcoal illegally shipped from the port of Kismayo.
Kenyan forces' collusion in the illicit trade may have brought them Sh1.2 Billion in proceeds, the 2016 report suggested.
Along with revenues from charcoal exports, the militia group finances its operations partly through “taxes” it levies on vehicles traveling on roads it controls, the UN team states.
“Large trucks are usually taxed Sh100,000 with receipts issued by Al-Shabaab to prevent double taxation at subsequent checkpoints,” the UN team was quoted by the Nation.
Recently, Inspector General of police Joseph Boinnet warned the Kenyan media of false reporting on how the KDF were engaging the Somalia-based militants.
He assured the nation that everything was in check and cautioned the media against spreading false alarm.
[caption caption="KDF Soldier in Somalia"]
[/caption]
