The Kenyan government has suspended flights to and from Somalia for 90 days as mistrust between the two countries continues to boil. The ban comes into effect barely a week after Somalia restored its diplomatic ties with Kenya following mediation from Qatar.
The Kenyan government through its Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) indicating the flight suspension with the exemption of humanitarian missions and medical evacuation flights as well as military flights which are not within the jurisdiction of the KCAA.
“We’ve put three months as we wait for further instructions, It may be extended or not.” Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Director- General Gilbert Kibe
The Background
While the Kenyan authorities have not been publicly clear about the reason for the ban, the announcement has come after Somalia’s aviation agency on Monday intercepted two Kenyan flights carrying khat (Miraa) – a mild narcotic stimulant which farmers in Kenya have grown and exported to Somalia for years, according to Bloomberg.
“We immediately sent the aircrafts back to Kenya and revoked their license to operate in Somalia’s airspace,” Somalia Civil Aviation Authority Director General Ahmed Hassan.
However, Somalia’s Minister Farah has dismissed any correlation between Somalia’s suspension of Kenyan khat and Nairobi’s suspension of flights to and from Mogadishu.
“The issue of khat is a trade subject that needs discussions between the two governments, but the commercial flights mainly concern movement of people and goods to both sides,” he said.
Somalia and Kenya share both a long history and fierce animosity rekindled by the tensions in the fight against al-Shabaab – a Somalia -based militant group that has staged deadly attacks on civilians.
In addition, the two east African nations dispute over the ownership of an Indian Ocean coastline that is reportedly rich in oil, gas and fish. While Somalia wants to use the resources to support its recovery efforts after more than twenty years of civil war, Kenya on the other hand, is looking to boost its treasury to fund an infrastructure expansion plan.
By Victor Shalton Odhiambo
