Kenya demands answers from Somalia over downed aircraft in Bardale

NAIROBI, Kenya - Somalia must give an in-depth explanation to Monday's air crash near Bardale airport which left six people dead, Kenya said on Tuesday, in a statement dispatched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Terming the incident, "suspicious", Nairobi also said it happened under "unclear circumstances" thus warranting the need for a credible explanation from Somali authorities, who control the airspace in the war-torn nation.

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

And authorities in Nairobi noted that the aircraft has been dispatching humanitarian aid in Somalia. At the time of the accident, it was carrying medical supplies and mosquito nets to Bardale, local officials said.

“The incident occurred under unclear circumstances. The aircraft had been and was supporting humanitarian operations during this Covid-19 pandemic period,” a statement issued by Foreign Affairs minister Raychelle Omamo read.

All humanitarian aircrafts operating within Somalia should enhance extra caution following the "unclear" incident, the ministry added, in a statement that indicates a brewing tension between the two nations whose relationship has been rather fragile for months now.

"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," read the statement, in reference to dozens of Kenyans working in Somalia.

Even before COVID-19 ravaged the war-torn nation, aid agencies have been using light aircraft to dispatch humanitarian assistance due to Al-Shabaab menace and flash floods which have wreaked havoc in the country.

So far, Somalia has recorded 722 positive cases of Coronavirus. Of these cases, over 35 people have since died with close to 50 recovering, data obtained from the ministry of health indicated.

But Kenya now insists that "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with other agencies shall keenly monitor the investigation of this tragic incident and will collaborate with all to bring closure and resolution".

Abdirahman Aden Ibbi, a Somali MP who is also co-owner of the aircraft, said the plane was flying from Baidoa, the regional administrative capital of Southwest to Bardale, and that "it was shot from 5 kilometers away from the airport".

Multiple reports also indicated that it was probably hit by a Rocket Propelled Grenade [RPG], although the executors are yet to be known. The region is manned by Ethiopian National Defense Forces troops who work under AMISOM.

But in a press release on Monday, Somalia's ministry of transport said "we have established the crashing of an aircraft in Bardale in which all the occupants died instantly. This is a big loss to the people of Somalia".

Further, it added: "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 is registered under African Express and is owned by Muse Bulhan. Those killed include Hassan Bulhan, the son to Bulhan, Captains Mubruuk, Omar, cargo handler Ali Madah Gadud, Saed Abdullahi Mohamed, who was a local agent in Baidoa and a Kenyan engineer.

Some reports allege that the plane might have been brought down by ENDF, who have been having a frosty relationship with KDF, but the team denied claims. Al-Shabaab militants cannot also be ruled out since they control sections of the region.

Somalia has been working closely with ENDF to wrestle some of the regions from local authorities, a move that put them at loggerheads with Kenya. Jubaland has been their main battleground, with the animosity almost escalating in February before a timely intervention by the US.

There were also reports that the ENDF and FGS blocked officials attached to the plane and KDF from accessing the black box, a move that could further build tensions between the two major players in a quest to restore unity and peace in Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE