Somali PM and his delegates detained for hours in Nairobi

High-level delegates led Somalia Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke was yesterday detained for several hours in Nairobi for breaching protocol.

The delegates, who have flown from Mogadishu, are reportedly heading to Turkey for attending High Level Partnership Forum (HLPF) that will be discussed on situation in Somalia.

The embarrassing incident that could test diplomatic relations between Kenya and Somalia happened mid-morning yesterday at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Sharmarke and delegation could not be cleared in Nairobi because their plane had not been inspected at Wajir Airport, as is the requirement for all flights to and from Somalia. “This is a real breach of security,” an official at JKIA said on Sunday.

Sharmarke was in a 20-member delegation of top officials of his government, including three ministers.

The delegation was to early today make a connecting flight to an unnamed Middle East country, after a day-long stop-over in Nairobi.

The High Level Partnership Forum which will be thrashed out the situation in Somalia, is going to be held in Istanbul town on February 23.

On 18th August last year, The wife of the Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid was arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi after she was found with ammunition.

Ms Asha Yassin Hassan, the wife of Mr Orma Sharmake, was found with 16 rounds of ammunition in her bag at the screening area as she was leaving for the US.

She was, however, released on a cash bail, and allowed to continue with her journey as she was to attend a crucial meeting.

“Ms Hassan will be charged in court when she comes back,” Kenya Airports Police Unit Deputy Commandant Joseph Nthenge said last year.