Authorities in Djibouti have on Friday denied accusations that it had diverted a Turkish Airlines carrying a top Somalia security official, even as Mogadishu claimed he had been illegally detained.
Earlier on Friday, Somalia accused neighbouring Djibouti of illegally detaining its former spy chief who was in transit from Turkey.
Somalia’s government condemned what it calls the unlawful detention of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo’s national security adviser.
Government spokesman Abdirashid Hashi in a tweet Friday said Fahad Yasin was detained at Djibouti airport.
Hashi tweeted such acts will not help to strengthen ties between Somalia and Djibouti.
Djibouti’s Minister of Economy and Finance Ilyas Dawaleh tweeted a response to the communication director’s accusation.
Dawaleh asked him to “refrain from any inappropriate and baseless statements.”
Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Yusuf added, “There are fake news released in social media trying to create confusion and drag Djibouti into Somalia internal challenges and crisis. We will continue to stand by our brothers and sisters in Somalia but never interfere in their internal affairs.”
Yasin, who is the former head of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency, is at the centre of a power struggle between Somalia’s president and prime minister.
Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble suspended Yasin over the disappearance of a female cybersecurity spy, who the agency says was killed by al-Shabab militants.
Her family believes Somalia’s spy agency was responsible for her disappearance.
The case has Farmajo and Roble in a stand-off that threatens the country’s elections and security gains.