Diplomatic Stand-off: Kenya Deny Entry Access to Somali Lawmakers

In March this year, concerned citizens across the African continent applauded the news that longtime neighbors at war, Kenya and Somalia had finally settled their dispute and resolved their diplomatic spat.

The reconciliation was initiated by the reformist Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, who had made it a point of duty not only to unite regions in his country but across East Africa.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had set up a meeting between Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta and Somalia’s president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed 'Farmaajo', during which the two leaders agreed to peacefully resolve their diplomatic dispute.

Photos were taken and the media was briefed on the new agreement.

"Through the leadership of PM Abiy Ahmed, President Kenyatta and President Mohamed Abdullahi met this morning to discuss extensively on the source of the two countries dispute. As an outcome both agreed to work towards peace & to take measures in addressing particular issues that escalated the tensions," the Office of The Prime Minister of Ethiopia tweeted.

Well, it appears governments of the two countries have decided to throw the efforts of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed into the gutters. They have decided to renew their diplomatic stand-off.

News outlets in Somali reported late yesterday that Kenya authorities had denied a number of lawmakers access into the country. The three lawmakers who had arrived at the Kenyan port of entry were refused from entering the country.

Radio Dalsan of Somalia reported that the country’s deputy minister of Water and Energy, Osman Libah, as well as Senators Ilyas Ali Hassan and Zamzam Dahir, had been left stranded at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, JKIA, in Nairobi.

“Dalsan Media has learned that the Somali Embassy in Nairobi unsuccessfully interceded on behalf of the three,” they added in a follow-up tweet.

The three lawmakers were reported to have spent the night at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport awaiting a flight that deported them back to Mogadishu this morning.

A Voice of America journalist disclosed that all three persons were carrying diplomatic passports by the Kenyan authorities roundly rejected issuing them visas.

The Somalia authorities are yet to officially react to the situation at the time of filing this report.

What are your thoughts?

Header Image Credit: Goobjoog News