Somalia renews direct flights ban to Kismayu amid row with Kenya

Somalia has for the second time in one month banned direct flights to Kismayu amid a row over ‘airspace violation’ with Kenya.

The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) renewed its September directive Friday ordering all flights from Kenya and any other point to stop over in Mogadishu before proceeding to Kismayu.

“All flights from anywhere in Kenya that go straight to Kismayo are banned. All domestic and international flights to Kismayo Airport must pass through Mogadishu,” a statement from the Somali Civil Aviation Authority said.

The directive follows a similar one in September ordering flights to the coastal city of Kismayu to pass by Mogadishu first. Somalia wrote to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) last week protesting what it termed as ‘airspace violation’ by Kenya.

It subsequently summoned Kenyan ambassador to Somalia Gen. Luca Tumbo on Thursday.

The directive also seems to go unheeded locally as aircraft still fly directly to Kismayu. A plane carrying Puntland president Abdullahi Deni flew directly to Kismayu to Garowe on Thursday.

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