MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji has handed over his Kenyan passport to Kenya’s deputy ambassador in Mogadishu, days after he was denied entry into Nairobi over questions surrounding the travel document.
Haji surrendered the passport to Kenya’s Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, Elias Bare Shill, on Monday, following an incident at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in which Kenyan immigration authorities questioned the validity of the document. Reports said he was returned to Mogadishu after officials raised concerns over how the passport was obtained.
The dispute has drawn attention to broader issues involving citizenship documents, identity and public accountability in both countries. Haji has rejected allegations that he posed any security threat, describing claims surrounding the incident as unfounded.
The development followed comments from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who urged government officials to avoid obtaining citizenship documents through improper means, highlighting the importance of transparency and public trust among state officials.
The incident adds pressure to Somalia-Kenya relations, which remain closely linked through security cooperation, trade and regional stability efforts, despite periodic disputes over migration, border issues and diplomatic matters. Kenya is also a major contributor to regional security efforts in Somalia and hosts a large Somali community.
Both governments have sought to manage the dispute while maintaining broader cooperation between the neighboring countries.
