Kenya Denies Defiance in UN Ban on Somali Charcoal Trade

Nairobi --Kenya has denied claims by a UN report which accused its troops in Somalia of assisting in exporting of charcoal from the country, despite of a UN Security Council ban.

The leaked dossier seen by Reuters news agency discloses that Kenyan troops in Somalia facilitated charcoal exports from Kismayo port after the Islamist militant fighters, al-Shabab lost control of it in September 2012.

The UN had imposed a ban on the export of charcoal from Somalia in February 2012, over claims that the lucrative industry was a major source of income for al-Shabab.

The al-Shabab group deserted the port city- its apparent stronghold- following an offensive last year by the Kenyan troops and the pro-government militia group, Ras Kamboni. Later Kenya and the AU appealed to the UN Security Council to lift the ban following eject of al-Shabab from the port city.

The report compiled by a UN panel of experts says Kenya’s army and the Somalia militia, Ras Kamboni “took the unilateral decision to begin the export of charcoal” from the port. It said the al-Shabab retained a stake in the industry.

"Essentially, with the changeover of power in Kismayo, the shareholding of the charcoal trade at the port was divided into three between al-Shabab, Ras Kamboni and Somali Kenyan businessmen cooperating with the KDF [Kenya Defence Forces]," the report alleged.

KDF spokesman Bogita Ongeri has denied the claims by the report saying it lacked “objectivity” and had not been properly researched.

Since the exit of the Islamist group in September from Kismayu, the prized port city has seen a myriad of clashes between rival Somali militia groups that are in contest over control of the lucrative business.

Charcoal exports from Kismayo mainly to the UAE region are estimated to be worth $15m to $16m per month, according to the report.

The total trade volume of charcoal exports from southern Somalia in 2011 increased to between nine million and 10 million sacks, generating revenues for the al-Qaeda group in excess of $25m (£16m), it further adds.

A successful mission by the Kenyan troops alongside the 17000-strong African Union forces have since pushed out al-Shabab from strategic locations it once controlled, giving more authority to the newly elected government.

Kenya had sent troops to Somalia in October 2011, alleging that al-Shabab was threatening its security.

The once influential al-Shabab has been fighting to establish an Islamic state in Somalia, but has since been weakened by the AU offense, resorting to  roadside bomb and gun attacks in the capital, Mogadishu.