Authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have cause to be returned some 27,000 livestock – sheep and goat – to Somalia.
Local media reports indicate that the herds of sheep and goats arrived at the Bosaso port on Tuesday afternoon. The cause of the rejection was because of fear of Rift Valley fever.
The move has been seen as a blow to Somali livestock traders who expected to make profits from the sale of the animals. News of the rejection was announced last weekend in an official letter shared by a Somali journalist.
Saudi authorities did not state the basis of their action since there was no independent examination to prove the claim. Traders, however, insisted that medics had given the animals a clean bill of health before they were shipped.
Rift Valley fever is an infection common in Africa caused by a bunyavirus; transmitted by mosquitoes or by handling infected animals – sheep, goat, camel.
