Muthomi Ireri
Somalia made a bold move this year by banning single-use plastic bags, but the law has faced significant challenges in implementation due to the country’s ongoing economic struggles. This follows similar initiatives in East African nations like Kenya and Tanzania.
Despite the law, brightly-colored plastic bags still dominate the markets and shops in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. The legislation was passed in February but only began to be enforced in October. A few arrests have been made, but the impact of the ban remains minimal.
“We use these bags because they’re affordable,” said grocer Abdikarim Hassan, standing at his stall in a central Mogadishu market, surrounded by goods wrapped in plastic. “Everyone knows the harm they cause, but what are we supposed to use instead?”
The price difference between plastic bags and eco-friendly alternatives is stark. Paper bags, which are more environmentally friendly, cost about four times more—at least 4,000 Somali shillings ($0.17) compared to just 1,000 shillings ($0.04) for a simple plastic bag.
With more than half of the population living below the poverty line, according to the government, affordability is a critical issue. “If we’re forced to stop using plastic bags, we don’t have a cheap alternative,” said Shamso Muqtar, a 41-year-old mother of five who sells vegetables at the market. “The government should have considered this.”
Despite the law, plastic bags persist because traders stocked up before the ban was enforced. “They are allowed to sell the remaining stock until it runs out,” said Garad Abdullahi Ali from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
In contrast, high-end boutiques and supermarkets, serving the small middle class in Mogadishu, have been more open to adopting the ban. “This is a positive sign, I hope other grocers follow suit,” said Ahmed Roble, a boutique owner. Supermarket shopper Abdirahman Omar Mohamed also expressed his approval, noting that he was happy to see less plastic, which he believes harms both humans and animals.
Global plastic production is on the rise, with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reporting around 460 million tonnes of plastic produced in 2019—double the amount from 2000. Production is expected to triple by 2060. The United Nations Environment Programme warns that an equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks of plastic waste is dumped into the seas, rivers, and lakes daily. Piles of this waste can be seen along the beaches near Mogadishu.
Volunteers like Abdisatar Arabow Ibrahim are working to address this growing issue. “The government has been slow to implement this law,” he said. “People must follow it to protect the environment for future generations.”
Dj Vnyash
Silverio Omari
