Washington, Jul 21 (IANS): US President Barack Obama Friday ordered a ban on charcoal imports from Somalia.
The president said the trade generates "significant revenue" for al-Shabaab, a Somalia-based cell of Al Qaeda, Xinhua reported.
The militant group, branded as a terrorist group by the US and several other countries, controls large swathes of southern Somalia.
Since the outbreak of a civil war in 1991, there has been no central government control over most of Somalia.
Obama also ordered expanded sanctions against individuals and entities that have engaged in acts threatening the peace, security or stability of Somalia.