FTL Somalia

A Kenyan-Registered Plane Enters Somali Airspace without Permission

An incident reported on Saturday involving a Kenya-registered aircraft entering Somali airspace without authorization has heightened tensions between Somalia and Kenya.

The tensions are particularly worrying viewed against the backdrop of the ongoing dispute between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Jubbaland’s President Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe.

Somali authorities are concerned about the implications of the aircraft’s unauthorized entry and its possible connection to President Madobe’s transportation to Nairobi.

The FGS has protested to Kenya, emphasizing that such actions undermine Somalia’s sovereignty and aviation regulations.

The dispute over President Madobe’s election last November has further strained relations, with the Somali government questioning its legality and seeking to assert greater control over regional administrations.

Despite this incident, relations between Somalia and Kenya have been relatively warm under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration, with efforts focused on regional cooperation and counter-terrorism.

However, this development underscores the fragility of these ties and highlights the challenges of navigating domestic political disputes while maintaining strong bilateral relationships.