Kenya deports Somalia’s second deputy prime minister over alleged passport fraud
Kenya this week deported Somalia’s second deputy prime minister, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, back to Mogadishu over allegations of fraudulently acquiring a Kenyan passport, according to a police report.
Haji arrived at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Wednesday afternoon with a valid visa in his Somali diplomatic passport. However, during a routine immigration inspection, officials suspected he had obtained a Kenyan passport through fraudulent means.
When questioned, Haji admitted to the allegation but refused to surrender the disputed passport, insisting he could only produce it in a court of law. Consequently, he was held in a VIP lounge at the airport and placed on a return flight to Mogadishu, which departed early Thursday morning.
The incident highlights the tensions that can arise despite close ties between Kenya and Somalia. Kenya hosts a significant Somali diaspora community and contributes troops to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), formerly known as AMISOM, supporting peacekeeping efforts in the Horn of Africa nation.
Somali officials have not yet commented on the matter, and attempts to reach Haji or Somalia’s information minister were unsuccessful.
The deportation underscores Kenya’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of its immigration system, even as it navigates complex diplomatic relationships with its neighbor.
Image Source: GHANAMMA
