Al-Shabaab Terrorist To Ban Single Use Of Plastic Bags In Somalia.

Al-Shabaab Terrorist To Ban Single Use Of Plastic Bags In Somalia.

A ban has been put by Al Qaeda-backed terrorist group Al-Shabaab on the use of plastic bags saying “it poses a serious threat to humans and animals”. Over the years, the terrorist group in East Africa that pledged loyalty to Al-Qaeda has placed bans on music, satellite dishes, humanitarian organizations and cinema and most recently added a new item on the list of banned stuff plastic bags.

People living in the areas controlled by the terrorist group will no longer be able to use plastic bags because of the dangers it poses to the environment. This announcement by a group known for killing and maiming thousands with suicide attacks has prompted a lot of mocking memes online with some calling the group the first eco-friendly terrorists. The statement on the ban on use of plastic bags was released online somalimemo.net a pro-shabaab website believed to be to group’s media outlet. 

An audio record was broadcasted on the website from Mohammed Abu Abdullah, the governor of Al-shabaab in the jubaland region saying that “plastic bags pose a serious threat to the health of humans and animals alike” and this statement was also repeated on twitter via a post by a Al-shabaab associated account. The message was also aired on radio andalus the groups radio station. The founder of the investigative dossier radio show and co-author of inside Al-shabaab Harun Maruf explained in a post on twitter that the militant group has issued a general directive banning the use of plastic bags, and has given reasons for this being environmental and health risks to livestock. He added that the group did not ban bombings, assassinations targeting civilians. 

A medical student in Mogadishu Mohammed Abdullaahi Ali, was one of the Somalis who found this decision bizarre. “I heard they banned plastic bags via social media,” said Ali in an interview “I see it as a good decision but they should ask themselves why they ban humanitarian workers operating in Al-Shabaab held areas?” he also added “I don’t know why sanitation and health of the environment is important but that of the workers.”