Our airspace is still locked for Somalia, Kenya insists
NAIROBI, Kenya – It will take a little longer before Kenya finally opens the airspace for Somalia, Nairobi has said, in the latest directive which could further affect the relationship between the two countries that have been in conflict for several months now.
Even after diplomatic ties between the two nations were restored less than a month ago, Kenya suspended direct flights to Somalia but left no reason for the move. Qatar had united the two nations involved in the deep diplomatic spit.
And on Monday, Kenya issued a statement to all diplomatic missions, reiterating that the suspension still exists, adding that no one should go against the existing order, in violation of established rules and directives. The letter was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Furthermore, Nairobi said that only medivac and humanitarian flights may fly back and forth Nairobi to Mogadishu. The suspension of chatted and passenger flights was issued in early May in connection with Somalia’s failure to lift the ban on Miraa.
“For humanitarian flights, the ministry must be provided with a list of passengers and goods to be transported to Somalia before approval is issued,” it further noted. The letter was addressed to all diplomatic missions in Kenya.
The ministry said that although the scope is given to humanitarian flights, they are obviously violating without taking into account possible consequences. The ministry warns that such measures would lead to the suspension of all fights.
“However, the Ministry regrets to announce that it has noted the misuse of humanitarian flights for bilateral and political issues in violation of NOTAM and public announcement to the effect that air communication between Kenya and Somalia had been suspended,” the ministry warned. “The Ministry reiterates that humanitarian flights must be used for humanitarian purposes to avoid complete locking of all flights.”
For a long time, Somalia has accused Kenya of interfering in its internal affairs, a claim that Nairobi dismisses as propaganda. The two countries are also in conflict over the controversial border with the Indian Ocean, and the case is currently before the International Court of Justice. [ICJ].
AXADLETM
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