Authorities at the Mogadishu airport were unable to identify the real owner of three suitcases that were seized containing Ksh970 million alleged to belong to a Kenyan.
Initial reports about the incident by the Standard alleged that the real owner of the loot could be in Kenya.
They further claimed that those behind the transportation of the money used Mogadishu as a route to transport the same to the country.
Additionally, sources also reported that those who were transporting the money in suitcases had the intention to use the porous border and have the loot in Nairobi.
[caption caption="Dollars "]
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Allegations by some officials that the money was to pay Somali soldiers have since been rubbished because they are usually paid Ksh100 million.
The loot was reported to have originated from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates before landing in Somalia where it was seized.
The United Arab Emirates has since denounced the seizure by Somali security staff.
“Money allocated to support the Somali army and trainees was seized at gunpoint by Somali security personnel, who disrespected some members of the UAE forces,” the statement read in part.
Claims that the loot was intended for Kenya could be disputed after UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash maintained that the country was trying to resolve the issue with the Somali government.
[caption caption="Terrorist group Al Shabaab "]
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He further noted that UAE backs counter-terrorism efforts in Somalia, where Al Shabaab militants stage regular attacks, and it had been sending money there as part of its commitment to Somalia’s “stability and prosperity in the fight against terrorism”.
