Last week, the Dutch government announced that it will add qat to the list of illegal drugs. Somali living in the Netherlands applaud the decision, says Sagal Gelle in this week’s edition of Bridges with Africa.
Gelle is chairwoman of NEDSOM, a foundation for Somalis living in the Netherlands.

Qat is a narcotic leaf from a fast-growing plant found all over the Horn of Africa and Yemen. In these cultures it's mostly the men who chew, although some women do as well. Users become euphoric when chewing the mild drug.

Awake all night, asleep all day
In the Netherlands, the majority of people who chew qat are unemployed Somali refugees, who are chewing on the little leaves all day. As a result they are awake all night, sleep all the day and therefore do not take part in family and social life.

The Dutch government argues that this hinders the integration of Somali men into Dutch society; last week it announced it will add qat to the list of illegal drugs.

Government scheme
According to NEDSOM, the majority of Somalis, especially women, welcome the ban, all though a few people remain confused. Some young Somalis don’t why the selling and using of marijuana is being tolerated in the country, while qat, which is milder, has now been made illegal. Therefore they think the ban is a government scheme to put Somalis in a bad light.

Listen to the interview with Sagal Gelle, chairwoman of NEDSOM: