Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Haji Abdirashid has rejected claims that he posed a security threat during his recent trip to Kenya. In a statement issued on June 28 he dismissed the allegations as false and baseless.
The Deputy Prime Minister arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on June 24 carrying a valid Somali diplomatic passport and visa. Immigration officers flagged him over suspicions of a fraudulently obtained Kenyan passport. He declined to surrender the document and was placed on a return flight to Mogadishu.
In his statement Haji said he was aware of social media allegations regarding his travel. He rejected them in full and added that he had not engaged in any activity aimed at undermining Kenya's security or sovereignty.
Haji acknowledged Kenya as one of Somalia's closest partners. He highlighted Nairobi's support through hosting refugees and advancing regional security while reaffirming his commitment to stronger bilateral ties in trade, security and infrastructure.
The incident occurred against a backdrop of volatile relations between the two countries. The Kenya-Somalia border has remained closed since 2011 due to terror activities linked to Al-Shabaab.