Kenya taking frustrations to diplomats on airspace closure, Somalia says

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia has not been formally notified on the plans by Kenya to shut airspace completely over alleged misuse by humanitarian planes and those carrying medical workers to Somalia, top officials in Mogadishu have claimed, just a day after Nairobi issued a communique.

According to Mogadishu, Kenya has not been in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Somalia over the allegations and that they only saw the statement on "media". "We are only seeing these statements on the media," one of them said.

The officials now say the latest statement by Kenya "doesn't concern us and we shall face them the way they want". This indicates that Somalia is no longer interested to negotiate with Kenya over the opening of the airspace which has remained borne of contention for some months.

One official goes further and argues that Kenya is taking its frustration over airspace closure to the diplomats in the hope that they might pressure Somalia to agree to open the airspace. Somalia had suspended flights carrying Khat, a stimulant drug that is a major export for Kenya.

Kenya suspended flights to and fro Somalia on May 11 without giving a proper explanation. Only humanitarian and medivac flights were allowed in the country but all of them have to undergo thorough screening before landing or taking off.

On Monday, Kenya issued a notice to all diplomatic missions reiterating that the suspension still exists, adding that nobody should go against the existing order, contrary to set regulations and directives. The letter was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Further, Nairobi said only medivac and humanitarian flights are allowed to fly to and fro Nairobi to Mogadishu. The suspension of chattered and passenger flights had been issued in early May in what is linked to Somalia's failure to lift the ban imposed on Miraa.

"The ministry wishes to inform the esteemed diplomatic missions, UN agencies, and international organizations that exemption has been given to humanitarian and medivac flights only," read the letter.

The ministry said despite the leeway given to humanitarian flights, they were reportedly violating them blatantly without putting into consideration possible consequences. The ministry warns that such actions would lead to the cancellation of all fights.

"The ministry, however, regrets to inform that it has noticed misuse of humanitarian flights for bilateral and political matters contrary to NOTAM and public notice to missions that air communication between Kenya and Somalia had been stood down," the ministry warned. "The ministry restates that humanitarian flights must be used for humanitarian purposes to avoid full lockdown of all flights."

For a long time, Somalia has been accusing Kenya of meddling in her internal affairs, a claim which Nairobi dismisses as propaganda. The two countries are also at loggerheads over the controversial Indian Ocean maritime border, and the case is currently at the International Court of Justice [ICJ].

GAROWE ONLINE