Reported by
Faridah N Kulumba
Somalia-Kenyan diplomatic relations has come to a standstill after Kenyan government suspended all flights to and from Somali. The ban came days after Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani brokered a breakthrough that saw the government of Somalia restore diplomatic ties with Kenya.
On May 7, 2021 Somalia issued a statement declaring that it was restoring diplomatic relations with neighbouring Kenya almost six months after severing ties accusing Nairobi of meddling in politics. Somalia said that the ties cut after the dispute will resume on the basis of ‘non-interference in each other’s affairs AlJazeera reported. “The Federal Government of Somalia announces that in keeping with the interest of good neighbourliness, it has resumed diplomatic relations with the Republic of Kenya,” said the statement from Ministry information.
“The two governments agree to keep friendly relations between the two countries on the basis of principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence.”
What happened?
Somalia cut ties with Kenya on December 15, 2020 accusing Kenya of interference in its internal affairs, after Kenya hosted the leadership of Somaliland, a state not recognised by the central government in Mogadishu.
In November, Somalia expelled Kenya’s ambassador and recalled its own from Nairobi after accusing Kenya of interfering in the electoral process in Jubbaland, one of Somalia’s five semi-autonomous states.
Also the relations between the two countries have been tense over the ownership of potential oil and gas deposits, some of which lie off the coast of Jubbaland. In February 2019, Kenya recalled its ambassador after Mogadishu decided to auction oil and gas exploration blocks at the centre of their maritime rights dispute. And the two nations revived ties in November the same year according to CGTN.
Kenya’s response towards Somali statement
On Thursday, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta met with Qatar’s envoy for Counterterrorism and Mediation of Conflict Resolution Dr Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani, Kenya’s presidency said on Twitter.
Kenya’s foreign ministry said last week that it took note of the Somali government’s announcement and were looking forward to further normalisation of relations by the Somali authority.
“The ministry of foreign affairs acknowledges the continued support that has been extended from the international community, and in particular the government of Qatar, in efforts to normalise the diplomatic relations between Somalia and Kenya,” said in a statement.
But why making a U-turn?
On Tuesday 11 2021 the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority suspended all frights to and from Somalia in a notice which was sent to Airmen (NOTAM) in just days after the two countries announced as they had restored diplomatic ties.
The notice stated that all flights between the two countries are suspended except medivac and United Nations Human flights, according to a Somali official who did not want to be identified because he not allowed to speak to media said the VOA.
The notice did not give any reasons for the action but Somalia issued a notice reaffirming an earlier ban on flights carrying Khat also known as Mirra from Kenya.
Aljazeera reported that KCAA director general Gilbert Kibe told AFP news agency the suspension was “a decision by the government”. The directive appeared to catch some Somali aviation officials and travel agents by surprise.
“We had not been given a prior notice, and there’s been no explanation about the reason so far,” an airport tower operator in Mogadishu told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Salim Khan, Mirra (Khat) farmer told Africa-Press that the ban will not only affect Kenya and Somalia but other neighbouring countries as well who supply Somalia though Kenya.
Kenya’s suspension of flights downgrades relations that seemed to be on the upswing, in less than a week.
