The Al-Shabaab jihadist militant group, which controls large parts of rural Somalia, has banned disposable plastic bags, in an official announcement made on its radio station Radio Andalus.

Al-Shabaab, which is more widely known for its hardline islamist views and deadly terror attacks, has banned the use of disposable plastic bags. The group has cited their impact on the environment and health risks for livestock as the reason behind the ban. The move was announced by Mohammed Abu Abdullah, al-Shabaab’s governor in the Jubaland region of Somalia.