The Somali Ministry of Environment and Development announced a ban on the single-use plastic bags by the end of June, as part of the East African Community's environmental protection regulations.
"Considering the significance of adhering to the environmental protection provisions within the East African Community, [...] the minister issued to completely stop the import, export, manufacture, trade, and use of single-use bags in Somalia starting from June 30, 2024," the ministry said.
The ministry also urged companies and entrepreneurs in Somalia to invent alternatives to plastic bags that do not harm the environment.
"The ministry advocates for all businesses and merchants to develop environmentally friendly substitutes to plastic bags," the statement said.
With this decision, Somalia joins other members of the East African Community, such as Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, which have already banned or restricted the use of plastic bags. In mid-December, Somalia signed a treaty to join the EAC, becoming its eighth member.
Plastic pollution is a challenge for sub-Saharan Africa, where, according to UK-based Christian charity Tearfund, enough plastic is thrown away or burned every minute to fill a football field.
Neither is last year's OECD report encouraging: by 2060, the region will have six times more plastic waste than in 2019. According to the report, the region produced slightly more than 16 million tons of plastic waste in 2019, and that figure is expected to rise to nearly 94 million tons by 2060.
Earlier in January, the Nigerian Lagos state announced its decision to ban single-use plastic bags, highlighting the severe pollution caused by non-biodegradable plastics, which leads to clogged drains, flooding, marine debris and wildlife entanglement.