Somalia's president places phone call to Uhuru over plane crash

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Federal Government of Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo termed Monday's plane crash in Bardale "unfortunate" in his rare phone call to his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta, Somalia's Foreign Affairs minister said, a move which could quell tensions between the two nations.

Through the foreign affairs department, Kenyan had termed the accident which left six people dead as "suspicious", adding that it happened under "unclear circumstances". Among those dead, three were Kenyan nationals, officials said.

While demanding for "in-depth" explanations, Nairobi also asked humanitarian aircraft operating in Somalia to take "extra" precaution following the "unprecedented" incident which could take military and political angles.

"Kenyan and other humanitarian aircraft operating in the region are also urged to enhance extra precaution in light of the unclear circumstances surrounding the incident," the statement by Raychelle Omamo, the foreign affairs minister read.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs working with other agencies shall keenly monitor the investigation of this tragic incident and will collaborate with all to bring closure and resolution."

But hours after Kenya expressed reservations for the air crash, ambassador Ahmed Awad, the Somalia foreign affairs minister, said Farmajo placed a telephone call to Uhuru over the incident.

Farmajo, he said in a post on Twitter, condoled with Uhuru over the loss of lives and assured the Kenyan leader of "thorough" investigations to unearth the mystery surrounding the plane crash.

"President Farmajo assured President Kenyatta that thorough investigation will be done into this unfortunate crash," said Awad, adding that Farmajo offered his condolences following the crash. The plane was carrying medical supplies to Bardale within Southwest state, officials had said.

The phone call between the two offers temporary reprieve given that tensions had begun to escalate due to suspicions among key players. Some unconfirmed reports indicate that Ethiopian troops who man Bardale and FGS officials had denied KDF officers access to the black box.

Kenya had on Tuesday also insisted that it was hopeful that Somalia would involve other international actors to ensure a credit report is given about the crash. Somalia, it added, "must rise to the occasion and tell the truth".

The aircraft, Embraer 120-5Y AXO crashed in Bardale airport in Bay region within the tension-prone Southwest state of Somalia, authorities had said, noting that it was just three minutes away from landing.

These reports were verified by Abdirahman Aden Ibbi, a Somali MP who is also a co-owner of the ill-fated aircraft, saying that the plane was flying from Baidoa, the regional administrative capital of Southwest, adding that "it was shot from 5 kilometers away from the airport".

Local Somali officials in Bardale raised an accusing finger to Ethiopian National Defense Forces [ENDF], claiming that they are responsible for downing the aircraft. The soldiers, local officials claimed, fired a Rocket Propelled Grenade [RPG] at the plane.

Farmajo's discussion with Uhuru comes also a few hours after Somalia transport insisted that "we commit ourselves as a government to conduct swift and transparent investigations to the incident. Thereafter, we shall have the findings published we sincerely condole with the affected families."

The aircraft was owned by African Express Airways, an aviation company associated with veteran pilot Muse Bulhan, who is also a renowned entrepreneur. His son, Hassan Bulhan, was among those who perished.

Others include pilot Mabruk Sherman and Omar Chiraghdin from Mombasa, cargo handler Ali Madah Gadud, Saed Abdullahi Mohamed, and another Kenyan flight engineer who is yet to be identified.

The Kenya aviation engineers and KDF, Farmajo added, are welcome to join Somalia in investigating the cause of the crash. Humanitarian agencies have been dispatching medical supplies in Somalia due to raging Coronavirus pandemic, which has infected 835 people besides killing 36 as of Tuesday.

Notably, this was the second time in two months Farmajo was calling Somalia over a "misunderstanding" between the two nations. In February, the two addressed tensions at the Mandera border after Somali National Army [SNA] clashed with Jubaland regional forces, who enjoy Kenya's support.

A top ENDF official denied knowledge of the plane crash after Addis Ababa was linked to the incident. Both ENDF and KDF have been embroiled in vicious tensions due to their conflicting interests especially in Jubaland, where they serve in AMISOM mission.

ENDF works closely with FGS while KDF is a close ally of Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, who also is in endless tussles with Farmajo over control of the region. The tensions were dismissed by Washington as "unnecessary", further raising concerns about possible "Al-Shabaab resurgence" due to the conflicts.

GAROWE ONLINE