Kenya has lifted a ban on direct flights from Somalia ending a months-long feud owing to the suspension of air travel between the two countries.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) Director-General Gilbert Kibe confirmed the new development, saying the ban imposed on May 11 had been reversed.
A note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Foreign Missions in Nairobi indicated that the move was part of Kenya’s efforts to review relations with Somalia, which have been frosty since December last year.
Kenya through its Foreign Minister said it has “taken due consideration of intercessions made and has decided to reopen Kenya’s airspace to all flights originating from Somalia to Kenya and emanating from Kenya to Somalia.”
Kenya reiterated that it is a genuine stakeholder in the search for Somalia’s peace and progress.
While reacting to the new development, the Ministry said “the government and the people of Kenya remain true partners for the peace and prosperity of Somalia and look forward to a renewal of the enduring bonds of friendship and partnership between Kenya and Somalia,”
Kenya-Somalia diplomatic relations have been severed in recent months with the latter blaming Kenya for meddling in its internal political affairs.
Now that the skies have been reopened, focus now shifts to whether the two countries can reopen their embassies, which were closed last December at the height of a diplomatic tiff.