Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NAIROBI4871
2006-11-15 14:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:
KENYA SUSPENDS SOMALIA FLIGHTS
how-toVZCZCXRO9596 PP RUEHGI RUEHRN RUEHROV DE RUEHNR #4871 3191412 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 151412Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5492 INFO RUEHXR/RWANDA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RULSDMK/DOT WASHDC RHMCSUU/FAA WASHDC RUEAYOK/FAA AERONAUTICAL CENTER OKLAHOMA CITY OK RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC
UNCLAS NAIROBI 004871
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/RSA, S/CT AND EB/TRA/AN
DEPT PASS USAID
DEPT ALSO PASS TO DOT FOR CONNIE HUNTER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR PTER PGOV KE SO
SUBJECT: KENYA SUSPENDS SOMALIA FLIGHTS
REF: Nairobi 4220
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLAS NAIROBI 004871
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/RSA, S/CT AND EB/TRA/AN
DEPT PASS USAID
DEPT ALSO PASS TO DOT FOR CONNIE HUNTER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR PTER PGOV KE SO
SUBJECT: KENYA SUSPENDS SOMALIA FLIGHTS
REF: Nairobi 4220
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
1. (SBU) Summary: Citing security concerns, the Government of Kenya
(GOK) suspended all scheduled flights between Somalia and Kenya
effective November 13. In so doing, the GOK will require all
charter flights to apply for clearance, providing a detailed
manifest of passengers, crew, travel documents and reason for travel
seven days in advance. The order affects two airlines' service
between Nairobi and four Somali cities, and cargo flights carrying
the narcotic khat (miraa) to Somalia. Press reports claim the
Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Baidoa, Somalia
supported the move. The opposition Islamic Courts called it
unwarranted and based on anti-Islamic sentiments. The suspension
follows the October 4 restriction of flights carrying Somali
passengers to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and is another
sign of the GOK's growing concern with events in Somalia. End
Summary.
2. (U) On November 11, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA)
announced in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that "All scheduled flights
to/from Somalia or into Kenya are suspended," and that "All charter
flights between Kenya and Somalia will be required to obtain a
clearance seven days before the expected date of the flight."
Applications for clearance must include a detailed manifest of
passengers, crew, travel documents and reason for travel. Kenya's
Chief Immigration Officer Ndathi advised his staff the suspension
was effective from Monday, November 13, and would remain in force
"until further notice." On November 13, a UN flight and a
commercial flight from Mogadishu were detained, checked and
permitted to fly.
3. (U) The order affects Dallo and East Africa Express Airlines,
which were offering scheduled service six days/week from Nairobi to
Mogadishu and three other Somali cities. The order also affects the
10-12 daily flights carrying khat (AKA miraa, a mild narcotic) from
Wilson Airport to Somalia and back. The order strengthens the
October 4 requirement issued by the Kenya Civil Aviation
Administration (KCAA) that any flight carrying passengers or excess
crew had to land first at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
(JKIA),and not the less secure Wilson Airport, for processing.
(Note: The GOK previously suspended Somalia flights in 1999 and
2001, but the bans were dropped because of opposition from
politically-powerful khat producers in the Mt. Kenya area. End
Note)
4. (U) AFP quoted Kenyan government spokesman Alfred Mutua as
stating, "We have indefinitely suspended flights between Kenya and
Somalia for security reasons." AFP also cited Somali Islamist
spokesman Sheikh Abdurahim Ali Muddey as calling the suspension
unwarranted because Somalia posed no threat; he accused Kenya of
anti-Islam sentiment in imposing the suspension. TFG Information
Minister Ali Jama is quoted as saying that the ban was prudent
following the U.S. warning of possible terror attacks in Kenya.
5. (SBU) USAID reports the flight suspension has already prevented
urgent supplies from reaching flood victims in Belet Weyne. The UN
Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Eric LaRoche, has
written directly to the Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs,
requesting that humanitarian charter flights be allowed to fly on 24
hours notice, and European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) and
ICRC are pursuing similar requests. If the GOK demurs, UNSG Annan
may raise the issue with President Kibaki at his November 15
meeting. Late on November 14, World Food Program (WFP) Somalia told
Emboff the Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Kenyan
Ambassador to Somalia have assured them the flight ban for
humanitarian flights will be lifted as of Thursday November 16.
According to WFP, the Kenyans claim the ban was never intended to
affect humanitarian flights.
RANNEBERGER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/RSA, S/CT AND EB/TRA/AN
DEPT PASS USAID
DEPT ALSO PASS TO DOT FOR CONNIE HUNTER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR PTER PGOV KE SO
SUBJECT: KENYA SUSPENDS SOMALIA FLIGHTS
REF: Nairobi 4220
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED
1. (SBU) Summary: Citing security concerns, the Government of Kenya
(GOK) suspended all scheduled flights between Somalia and Kenya
effective November 13. In so doing, the GOK will require all
charter flights to apply for clearance, providing a detailed
manifest of passengers, crew, travel documents and reason for travel
seven days in advance. The order affects two airlines' service
between Nairobi and four Somali cities, and cargo flights carrying
the narcotic khat (miraa) to Somalia. Press reports claim the
Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Baidoa, Somalia
supported the move. The opposition Islamic Courts called it
unwarranted and based on anti-Islamic sentiments. The suspension
follows the October 4 restriction of flights carrying Somali
passengers to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and is another
sign of the GOK's growing concern with events in Somalia. End
Summary.
2. (U) On November 11, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA)
announced in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that "All scheduled flights
to/from Somalia or into Kenya are suspended," and that "All charter
flights between Kenya and Somalia will be required to obtain a
clearance seven days before the expected date of the flight."
Applications for clearance must include a detailed manifest of
passengers, crew, travel documents and reason for travel. Kenya's
Chief Immigration Officer Ndathi advised his staff the suspension
was effective from Monday, November 13, and would remain in force
"until further notice." On November 13, a UN flight and a
commercial flight from Mogadishu were detained, checked and
permitted to fly.
3. (U) The order affects Dallo and East Africa Express Airlines,
which were offering scheduled service six days/week from Nairobi to
Mogadishu and three other Somali cities. The order also affects the
10-12 daily flights carrying khat (AKA miraa, a mild narcotic) from
Wilson Airport to Somalia and back. The order strengthens the
October 4 requirement issued by the Kenya Civil Aviation
Administration (KCAA) that any flight carrying passengers or excess
crew had to land first at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
(JKIA),and not the less secure Wilson Airport, for processing.
(Note: The GOK previously suspended Somalia flights in 1999 and
2001, but the bans were dropped because of opposition from
politically-powerful khat producers in the Mt. Kenya area. End
Note)
4. (U) AFP quoted Kenyan government spokesman Alfred Mutua as
stating, "We have indefinitely suspended flights between Kenya and
Somalia for security reasons." AFP also cited Somali Islamist
spokesman Sheikh Abdurahim Ali Muddey as calling the suspension
unwarranted because Somalia posed no threat; he accused Kenya of
anti-Islam sentiment in imposing the suspension. TFG Information
Minister Ali Jama is quoted as saying that the ban was prudent
following the U.S. warning of possible terror attacks in Kenya.
5. (SBU) USAID reports the flight suspension has already prevented
urgent supplies from reaching flood victims in Belet Weyne. The UN
Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Eric LaRoche, has
written directly to the Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs,
requesting that humanitarian charter flights be allowed to fly on 24
hours notice, and European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) and
ICRC are pursuing similar requests. If the GOK demurs, UNSG Annan
may raise the issue with President Kibaki at his November 15
meeting. Late on November 14, World Food Program (WFP) Somalia told
Emboff the Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Kenyan
Ambassador to Somalia have assured them the flight ban for
humanitarian flights will be lifted as of Thursday November 16.
According to WFP, the Kenyans claim the ban was never intended to
affect humanitarian flights.
RANNEBERGER