Kenya: Army accused of sugar smuggling

NAIROBI, Kenya

A report by the Journalists for Justice (JFJ) organization has accused the Kenyan army of engaging in illicit sugar smuggling from the Somali port of Kismayo.

Journalists for Justice is a non-partisan group administratively hosted by the International Commission of Jurists, dedicated to exposing impunity arising from politically instigated violence.

The report, released on Thursday, said that the Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) stationed in Somalia as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia, are illegally profiting from the trade.

Despite repeated attempts, the KDF could not be reached for comment.

“JFJ research suggests that both Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) and the Jubaland administration of Ahmed Madobe, as well as the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, are all benefitting from shares in a trade that is worth, collectively, between $200 million and $400 million,” the report said.

“Loaders, traders and intelligence officials told JFJ that an estimated 150,000 tonnes of illicit sugar comes into Kenya via Kismayo each year. Workers at the port in Kismayo told JFJ that around 230 trucks of 14 tonnes each leave Kismayo for Kenya, around 3000 tonnes a week,” the report added.

The JFJ said that the Kenyan army and Jubaland forces, along with Al-Shabaab were allegedly partners in the illicit trade. The Jubaland administration allegedly levies a tax of $2 per bag on imported sugar, an income of around $250,000 a week or $13 million annually.

“Al-Shabaab taxes the trucks as they leave Kismayo at the rate of $1,050 each as well, earning about $12 million per year. Then, to cross the border, the truck owners pay the KDF network about $600 per truck and then a further $600 must be paid to the police in Dadaab,” the report said.

The UN monitoring group in Somalia has also published a report on Oct. 23 which detailed the same illicit sugar trade.