Kenya’s aviation authorities on Tuesday suspended all flights to and from Somalia in the latest diplomatic spat between the two neighboring countries.
Kenya Civil Aviation Authority 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. However, flights from Somalia, passing through the Kenyan airspace to another destination will be exempted.
The announcement was made just as Somalia’s President Mohamed Farmaajo was overflying Kenya on his way to Uganda to attend the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni.
Also exempted are military flights which are not within the jurisdiction of the KCAA.
The move, dents any latest efforts to revive relations between the two countries. Last week, Qatari special envoy Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani helped broker resumption of relations after Mogadishu announced it was reopening its diplomatic channels it had shut down in December, protesting against 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.
Somalia, however, has 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.
