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Kenya reopens airspace with Somalia, eyes reciprocal on khat ban

Storyline:National News, Security

GOOBJOOG NEWS|NAUIROBI: Kenya announced Thursday it had ended its ban on flights to and from Somalia following what it termed as ‘intercessions’ made ending a biting restriction that has seen travel between the two countries adversely affected.

The Ministry of Affairs said in a letter to Somalia on June 10 all flights between the two countries can now resume. Kenya Civil Aviation Authority in May suspended flights to and from Somalia for three months but did not cite any reasons.

Noting that the decision was in the interest of the two countries, Kenya said, it is also ‘in the hope that it will cause the full normalisation of bilateral relations’ including ‘diplomatic, trade and people to people linkages that have undergone undue strain’.

Kenya made a similar statement last month when Somalia announced the resumption of ties hoping Somalia would lift the ban on khat imports. Things fell apart shortly after it emerged that Somalia was not going to rescind its khat ban.

It is not clear if Somalia will lift its ban on khat from Kenya.

Travellers from Somalia will have to present a COVID-19 negative certificate issued within 96 hours before travel, the statement added noting children below five years of age will be exempted.