Kenya reopens airspace to Somalia

Xinhua
11 Jun 2021, 02:30 GMT+10

NAIROBI, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Thursday reopened its airspace for flights to and from Somalia after a month of closure, in hopes of realizing full normalization of bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.

Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision was necessitated by the mutual interests of the two countries.

"This goodwill measure has been made in the mutual interest of our two countries and in the hope that it will cause the full normalization of bilateral relations between Kenya and Somalia including diplomatic, trade and people to people linkages that have undergone undue strain," the ministry said.

The ministry, however, stressed that existing COVID-19 measures will apply to all passengers from Somalia to Kenya, as directed by Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. COVID-19 certificates are required as proof that one does not have the virus before leaving or entering the country.

"All travelers (children) below the age of five years will be exempted from COVID-19 negative PCR test to enter Kenya," the ministry said. All travelers will be expected to fill the international traveler surveillance form available on the Ministry of Health's website and submit it before travel.

Somalia in December 2020 severed its diplomatic ties with neighboring Kenya, accusing Nairobi of frequently violating Mogadishu's sovereignty. Mogadishu restored diplomatic relations with Nairobi on May 5 with mediation by Qatar.

Kenya suspended flights to and from Somalia on May 11 after Somalia refused to lift a ban imposed in 2020 on Kenya's cargo flights for khat (miraa).

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.

More Information

20 ℃

Partly Cloudy in Nairobi/Wilson

Africa

Section

U.S. to donate 500 million Pfizer doses by end 2022

WASHINGTON D.C.: The Biden administration has announced it will donate 500 million Pfizer Covid vaccine doses to nearly 100 countries ...

What the budget holds for the agriculture sector in Kenya

Kenya's second budget under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic has prioritised a stimulus for economic recovery and the implementation ...

Millions of young South Africans are without jobs: what are the answers?

African countries are experiencing an unprecedented level of unemployment among young people. The unemployment numbers are expected to increase given ...