Why Somalia needs stronger control of veterinary drugs and better enforcement of animal-health laws ?

In the vast, sun-scorched landscapes of the Horn of Africa, the health of a herd is often the difference between survival and starvation. For millions of people in Somalia, livestock are not merely animals; they are the foundation of the economy, the primary source of food, and the main engine for trade with other nations. To keep these herds healthy, farmers rely on medicines, particularly antibiotics, which are powerful drugs designed to kill bacteria and cure infections. However, when these medicines are used without strict rules, or when they are sold in unregulated markets, they can lose their power. This happens when bacteria learn to survive the drugs, a phenomenon known as antimicrobial resistance. When this occurs, common illnesses become untreatable, and dangerous germs can move from animals to humans, creating a shared health crisis that threatens both the livestock industry and the safety of the people who eat the meat and drink the milk.

A recent letter from researchers at Somali National University brings a sharp focus to this critical issue within Somalia. The authors, a team of five scholars, argue that while the country has the laws on paper to control veterinary drugs, the reality on the ground is very different. They found that the current system is too weak to stop the flow of unregulated medicines, which leads to poor treatment for sick animals, the spread of drug-resistant bacteria, and a loss of trust from international buyers who want to import Somali livestock. The researchers do not claim to have discovered a new disease or invented a new cure; instead, they have carefully examined the gap between Somalia's existing policies and the actual enforcement of those policies. Their work suggests that without immediate and stronger action to regulate how drugs are imported, sold, and used, the country risks severe economic losses and a growing public health threat that could become impossible to reverse.

The core of the problem lies in the chaotic nature of the drug supply chain. In Somalia, veterinary medicines often travel through a fragmented network involving public offices, private sellers, and informal market vendors, with little oversight to ensure the drugs are genuine or used correctly. The researchers point out that this lack of supervision allows counterfeit or substandard medicines to enter the market. When farmers use these unreliable products, or when they use real medicines without a proper diagnosis, the bacteria in the animals are not fully killed. Instead, the strongest bacteria survive and multiply, creating strains that no longer respond to treatment. This is not just a problem for the animals; it is a "One Health" issue, meaning the health of the people, the animals, and the environment are all linked. If the drugs stop working for the livestock, they may also stop working for the humans who treat them or consume their products.

The authors highlight that the challenges are deep and structural. The country's federal system means that responsibilities are split between different levels of government, often leading to confusion and a lack of coordination. Insecurity and a shortage of trained staff further limit the ability of authorities to inspect imports or check the quality of medicines in remote areas. Furthermore, the harsh realities of life for pastoralists, who must move their herds over long distances and survive droughts, create immense pressure to treat sick animals quickly, often leading them to bypass formal veterinary advice. In this environment, weak regulation allows dangerous drugs to substitute for proper care, such as vaccination or quarantine. The researchers note that while a draft policy to control veterinary drugs was validated in 2025, the mere existence of a plan is not enough. Without the power to enforce it, the laws remain ineffective.

The consequences of this inaction are already visible. For the farmers, it means higher costs and the loss of animals that could have been saved with the right treatment. For the nation, it threatens the credibility of its animal health certification, which is essential for exporting livestock to international markets. If buyers cannot trust that Somali animals are free from disease and drug residues, they will stop buying, causing a collapse in export earnings. The researchers argue that the solution requires more than just writing new rules. It demands a complete overhaul of how the system works. This includes licensing every person and business that sells or uses veterinary drugs, restricting the most powerful antibiotics to prescription-only use, and building a system to track medicines from the port of entry all the way to the farm. They also call for better laboratory support to detect fake drugs and for training local health workers to report violations.

Ultimately, the letter serves as a clear warning and a roadmap for the future. The researchers emphasize that Somalia cannot protect its most valuable economic asset—its livestock—by relying on laws that exist only on paper. The path forward requires a unified effort to strengthen the control of veterinary drugs and to enforce animal health laws with genuine authority. By doing so, the country can safeguard its herds, secure its place in the global market, and protect its people from the rising tide of drug-resistant infections. The work of these scholars underscores that effective governance is not just a technical detail for veterinarians; it is a vital necessity for the survival and prosperity of the entire nation.