Young men sprint down streets with bundles of fresh qat leaves on their shoulders, as traders call out prices and haul the bags aboard lorries. Ethiopia’s trade in qat, a mild stimulant native to this part of Africa, is booming. Qat is now the country’s second-largest source of foreign currency, and, with prices rising, a handy source of government revenue. Qat kiosks are dotted around all main towns; young men chewing on street corners or in university libraries have become a ubiquitous feature of Ethiopian life. Much the same is true in neighbouring Kenya, the region’s second-largest qat producer.

Source: Ethiopian News January 19, 2017 15:47 UTC