Kenya resumes direct flights to Somalia after Uhuru's order

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Bilateral relations between Kenya and Somalia could be on the right track following the first direct flight from Mogadishu to Nairobi, a week after the two nations agreed to restore normalcy.

Suspicions, sabotage and selfish interests had threatened to curtail the relationships between the two countries, a tragedy that was almost nailed by the Indian Ocean maritime dispute.

Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta promised to reinstate direct flights between the two cities, six months after suspension orchestrated by the maritime dispute.

Early this week, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) defended the delay of the implementation of Uhuru's order, arguing that the Notice to airmen was yet to be issued.

“We have not yet issued the Notam but we will do that soon after getting some clarification,” said KCAA Director General Gilbert Kibe.

Abdinur Mohamed, Somalia's Presidential communication officer, on Friday announced the first take off for the direct flight from Mogadishu to Nairobi.

Throughout the last six months, flights to the two cities had to make a rather unnecessary stopover at Wajir airport, over 2000 KM North East of Nairobi for a 'security check'.

"Today, Kenya and Somalia reap the benefits of the seeds of cooperation & historical neighborliness sowed by H.E @M_Farmaajo and H.E Kenyatta as both our two countries approve direct flights as agreed," Mohamed said.

The communication boss added: "This follows the fulfillment of other agreements including VISA on arrival."

Sources intimated that the Kenya Airways aircraft that departed from Aden Adde International Airport on Friday had 50 passengers aboard.

The frosty relationship between the two nations precipitated authorities at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to send parking three Somalia legislators in June for 'lack of Visa'.

As a sign of good comradeship, Uhuru said, "Our brothers and sisters in Somalia should be issued with Visas upon arrival in the country".

Uhuru and his counterpart Mohamed Farmajo held a closed-door meeting in Nairobi last week, a move that sealed the direct flights deal.

"We have agreed that within a week, authorities should put measures to ensure we have direct flights from Mogadishu to Nairobi," he had said.

Farmajo, who is increasingly facing internal opposition at his backyard over derailed reforms and abuse of human rights, said, "We have a lot of things in common that revolves around business, trade and family ties".

Despite the normalization of the bilateral relationship, the two countries will still face each other at the International Court of Justice at The Hague in June 2020 for the maritime case.

But Kenya's interest in Jubaland could still remain a major obstacle in actualizing the new vision between the two countries given that Farmajo has been accusing regional leader Ahmed Madobe of working with 'foreigners' to undermine him.

United Nations special envoy to Somalia James Swan told UNSC on Thursday that "President Farmajo and his Kenyan counterpart President Uhuru Kenyatta met last week and announced to normalize their strained bilateral relations".

GAROWE ONLINE