Kenya has banned flights to and from Somalia.
In a notice to Somalia’s aviation authority, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) communicated the suspension of all flights to and from Somalia.
KCAA did not give reasons as to why it issued this order.
The ban comes days after Qatar brokered an agreement that saw Mogadishu restore diplomatic ties with Nairobi.
Somalia restored diplomatic relations with Kenya after five months following mediation by Qatar led by Emir Sheikh Tamim Al Thani.
Somalia’s Ministry of Information said they were resuming the relations “in keeping with the interests of good neighbourliness”.
“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,” the statement said.
For a while now, Kenya’s ties with Somalia have severed. In December 2020, Somalia asked Kenyan diplomats in Mogadishu to leave in seven days.
Somalia Minister of Information Osman Abukar Dubbe while issuing the order accused Nairobi of meddling with Mogadishu’s democracy.
Dubbe also recalled its diplomats who were in Nairobi.
Somalia added that it strongly upheld principles of interdependence and maintaining friendly relations with neighbouring countries but believes that the Kenyan government’s actions are not in line with internationally recognised diplomatic relations enjoyed by sovereign states.
