Kenya Suspends Flight Between Kenya And Somalia

Kenya on Monday 11 May 2021, suspended flights from Somalia in the latest show that relations between the two sides have not loosened as announced last week.

According to a notice from Airmen (Notam), the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said flights departing for or arriving from Somalia will not be allowed for three months. Only humanitarian deliveries and medical evacuation flights will be allowed into the country, the aviation regulator said.

The Authority did not elaborate on reasons but suggested there had been a security directive from the government to restrict air traffic between the two countries. The decision means all chartered and scheduled flights to Somalia will not be allowed.

The decision means all chartered and scheduled flights to Somalia are suspended. However, flights from Somalia, passing through the Kenyan airspace to other destinations are exempted.

The move to suspend flights came just a week after Somalia announced it had restored diplomatic ties with Kenya amid maritime boundary rows.

The two leaders agreed to set aside their differences after intervention from the Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

“The Federal Government of Somalia announces that in keeping with the interests of good neighborliness, it has resumed diplomatic relations with the Republic of Kenya.

Last week, Qatari special envoy Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani helped broker resumptions of relations after Mogadishu announced it was reopening the diplomatic channels it had shut down in December, protesting Kenya’s alleged interference.

Somali officials clarified the resumed relations will not involve lifting the ban on miraa trade nor discussions about the maritime boundary dispute now before the International Court of Justice and awaiting a verdict.

They have not indicated when its ambassador will resume. Mr. Mohamud Nur Tarsan was recalled to Mogadishu and Kenya’s Lucas Tumbo returned to Nairobi after Mogadishu cut ties in December.  Nairobi, however, did not sever the ties.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry indicated that it had taken note of a press release issued by Somali authorities reestablishing their diplomatic relations with Kenya.