MOGADISHU (SD) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has said it has reopened livestock exports from Somalia, which have been banned in recent years.

Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamed Guled has officially today announced the reopening of Somalia’s livestock exports to Saudi Arabia.

Somalia’s livestock minister said the move came after long efforts by the ministry, government officials and some businessmen, as Somalia has not exported livestock directly to Saudi Arabia since 2016.

Saudi Arabia banned livestock imports from Somalia in 2016 citing infections Mers virus. Somali livestock farmers exported about 5.4 million animals to Saudi Arabia the previous year.