The government of Somalia has summoned Kenyan ambassador to Somalia to be notified ofthe protest by the Horn of Africa over a violation of its airspace.
Last week, a plane carrying Somali politicians flew directly from Nairobi to the coastal city of Kismayo.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday it summoned Lt. General (Rtd) Lucas Tumbo to hand him a protest note ‘against the violation of a Kenyan plane on Somali airspace on October 5, which landed at Kismayo airport without any official permission. ‘
“Somalia strongly protests this violation and will not accept any encroachment on its air, sea and land borders, and calls on Kenya to respond to this breach while its troops stationed in the Lower Juba region are part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM),” the note to Kenya read in part.
The development comes a week after Somalia sent a complaint to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Somalia called on the agency for more explanation about the move to allow the plane direct access to Kismayo
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority last month ordered all flights heading to Kismayu to stop over in Mogadishu.
