The Kenyan government has fired yet another shot at Somalia following their diplomatic row over their protracted maritime border dispute.
A statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday stated Kenya would no longer allow the entry of unaccompanied baggage from Somalia through its borders.
Kenya cited security issues as the key reason behind the new directive, adding that any unmanned luggage would be confiscated and destroyed moving forward.
"The government of Kenya will henceforth not allow unaccompanied baggage from Somalia into the country. Such baggage will be confiscated and destroyed in line with applicable, air transport safety and security regulations and the carrier airline will be held responsible,” an excerpt of the statement disclosed.
Reports by the Daily Nation also stated that airlines found carrying such luggage would be punished, as this contravenes international air travel safety regulations and could pose a danger to travellers.
The latest move came just days after the Somali government announced that it would steer clear from all future regional meetings held in Nairobi.
In response, the Kenyan Government issued a statement asserting their position as hosts of various regional and international meetings, and that officials from Somalia were welcome to attend as well.
"Kenya will continue to facilitate and host regional and international meetings in accordance with its international obligations and commitments and Somali nationals are always welcome subject to entry requirements as is applicable to all foreign nationals,” Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Monica Juma asserted.
Somalia's hasty decision was fueled by the detention of three senior Somali government officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for lack of visas despite them having diplomatic passports.
However, Kenya's foreign affairs ministry was quick to downplay any ill-motive on their part by reiterating that Somali officials were all welcome to Kenya, so long as they followed proper protocol.
“Somalia government officials are always welcome subject to entry requirements as applicable to all foreign nationals,” a section of the statement disclosed.
The two countries have been at each other's throats ever since Somalia filed a maritime boundary dispute at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2014.
