Somalia Struggles with Plastic Pollution After Ban
Somalia made a big decision this year to ban single-use plastic bags, hoping to protect the environment. But making it happen in a country dealing with so many challenges hasn’t been easy.
Other East African countries like Kenya and Tanzania also banned plastic bags, but in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, plastic bags are still everywhere—in shops, markets, and even on the streets.
The ban was announced back in February, but it wasn’t officially enforced until October. Even now, it’s hard to see much change. Some people have even been arrested for breaking the rules, but plastic bags are still being used.
“We know plastic bags are bad for the environment, but they’re cheap and easy to get,” said Abdikarim Hassan, a shopkeeper in Mogadishu. He pointed out that paper bags and other eco-friendly options cost way more—almost four times the price of plastic bags.
For many people in Somalia, where most families struggle to make ends meet, buying expensive alternatives just isn’t possible.
“If we can’t use plastic bags, what can we use instead?” asked Shamso Muqtar, a vegetable seller and mom of five kids. “The government didn’t think this through.”
Why Plastic Bags Are Still Around
Garad Abdullahi Ali, from Somalia’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, explained that many businesses stocked up on plastic bags before the ban started.
“They’re allowed to sell off what they already have,” he said.
Meanwhile, bigger shops and supermarkets in Mogadishu have started using paper bags and reusable options.
“It’s a good move,” said Ahmed Roble, a shop owner in the city. “I hope more stores make the change.”
Shoppers like Abdirahman Omar Mohamed have noticed some progress. “It’s great to see fewer plastic bags,” he said. “They’re so harmful to people and animals.”
Plastic’s Global Problem
Around the world, plastic use is skyrocketing. In 2019, over 460 million tons of plastic were made—twice as much as in 2000. And the numbers are only going up, with production expected to triple by 2060.
The United Nations says that every day, the same amount of plastic as 2,000 garbage trucks ends up in oceans, rivers, and lakes. In Mogadishu, you can see it along the beaches—piles of plastic ruining the sand and the sea.
Some volunteers, like Abdisatar Arabow Ibrahim, are trying to clean up the mess.
“The government should have enforced this ban sooner,” he said. “We all need to work together to save our environment—for us and for the next generation.”
