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Kenya Suspends All Flights To and From Somalia

Harun Maruf

   Kenya has suspended flights to and from Somalia, just days after the
   countries restored diplomatic ties after a five-month break.

   The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority sent a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)
   stating that all flights between the two countries are suspended except
   medivac and United Nations humanitarian flights, according to a Somali
   official who did not want to be identified because he is not allowed to
   speak to media.

   The suspension is effective May 11 until at least August 9.

   VOA Somali service has seen KCAA's notice, issued on May 10, which
   confirms suspension of flights.

   KCAA has not yet announced the reason for the suspension, but it comes
   a day after Somalia issued a notice reaffirming an earlier ban on
   flights carrying khat, also known as mirra, from Kenya.

   "Carrying Mirra to Somalia is still prohibited and the policy of the
   Federal Government of Somalia did not change regarding the
   transportation of Miraa to Somalia airports," read a statement sent to
   airline operators by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) on May
   9. "Transporting Mirra without clearance from SCAA will be considered
   an unlawful act and violation of Somali airspace," the notice added.
   FILE - In this photo taken July 12, 2012 Isaq Abdi sits beside bundles
   of khat which he sells for his employer in Mogadishu, Somalia.

   Khat is a green narcotic stimulant grown in Kenya that is widely used
   in Somalia.

   Kenya's suspension of flights downgrades relations that seemed to be on
   the upswing. Just last week, Somalia announced it was restoring
   diplomatic ties with Kenya after mediation by the emir of Qatar, Sheikh
   Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

   In December 2020, Somalia had cut diplomatic ties with Kenya, alleging
   constant violations of Somalia's sovereignty and interference in
   internal affairs. Kenya denied the accusations. The countries also have
   an ongoing maritime boundary dispute over who controls Indian Ocean
   waters believed to contain large deposits of oil and natural gas.

   Kenya Ministry of Foreign Affairs cautiously welcomed the restoration
   of ties and said it was looking forward to normalizing relations in
   terms of trade, communication, transportation, people to people
   relations and cultural exchanges.

     Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya takes note of a press release
     issued by Somali authorities reestablishing their diplomatic
     relations with Kenya. [1]pic.twitter.com/oZaaFYEPbO
     -- ForeignAffairsKenya (@ForeignOfficeKE) [2]May 7, 2021

   Somali authorities initially suspended of all international flights in
   March 2020 after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the
   country. The suspension on international flights was lifted in August
   but a ban on khat flights remained in place. Officials in Somalia
   insisted the reason for maintaining the suspension is to prevent the
   coronavirus from spreading.

   However, last year Somalia started allowing flights from Ethiopia to
   transport khat. At least four flights carrying Khat arrive in Somalia
   daily from the eastern Ethiopia city of Dire Dawa, according to
   traders.

     A National Airways PLC plane carrying several tons of khat from
     Ethiopia has arrived at Mogadishu airport on Saturday. This is the
     first flight from Ethiopia to deliver khat directly to Mogadishu,
     and it comes as Somalia refuses to allow Kenya khat flights to fly
     to Somalia. [3]pic.twitter.com/BtqjvIwfBk
     -- Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) [4]October 17, 2020

   The khat business has been lucrative for Kenya farmers. Before the
   suspension, as many as 15 Kenya flights carrying the narcotic stimulant
   used to make deliveries in several regions in Somalia per day. The
   continued suspension denies Kenya farmers millions of dollars in
   earnings from business with Somalia.

   Somalia activists are pressuring the federal government not to lift ban
   Khat as they argue the stimulant is associated with poor health and
   loss of hard currency.

     Kenya sends us drugs that destroys our society's health & well-being
     - putting our sense of livelihoods in jeapardy- Somalia sends real
     business & $$$. Kenya a loser in this transaction. They now doubling
     down on idiocy. [5]pic.twitter.com/5xDiDmDK0h
     -- Abukar Awale ( Qaaddiid ) (@Abukarawale) [6]May 11, 2021

References

   1. https://t.co/oZaaFYEPbO
   2. https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficeKE/status/1390588393894129664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   3. https://t.co/BtqjvIwfBk
   4. https://twitter.com/HarunMaruf/status/1317465976015912960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   5. https://t.co/5xDiDmDK0h
   6. https://twitter.com/Abukarawale/status/1392006108550680581?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw