A story in Christian Science Monitor claims that purchases of charcoal by the United Nations - to fuel the troop kitchens of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) - are indirectly funding the terrorist group, Al Shebab.

The UN currently buys 52 tons of charcoal a week (under a contract worth about $1 million annually) for the kitchens of peacekeeping forces in Mogadishu. To fulfill this contract, it is estimated that at least 250 trees need to be felled each week.

Deforestation of the few remaining trees in southern Somalia for charcoal burning is likely one of the major causes of drought, which has caused millions of people to seek international aid.

Simon Davies from the UN Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA) said, “We are acutely aware of the negative impact of the trade in charcoal and have been pro-actively working to transition AMISOM to other fuels.”

While it is illegal to export charcoal from Somalia, domestic trade such as this does not come under the sanctions.

The article claims that Al Shabab earns money not just from direct links to charcoal traders but also from taxing charcoal trucks as they pass through areas under Islamist control.

Read the full story: In Somalia, UN charcoal purchases could be funding Al Shabab terror group