Kenya Airlines will fly you to Hargeisa, Somaliland in new deal. Will it be a smooth ride?

NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec, 15 – Historic news that Kenya will officially open its consulate in Hargeisa, Somaliland, at the same time upgrade its Nairobi Liaison office, amidst a full blown diplomatic stalemate with Somalia, which considers the self-declared nation a semi-autonomous region of its federal government is no doubt bound to ignite even further the already existing tension between the two neighbouring countries.

Resolutions agreed upon however between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Somaliland counterpart Muse Bihi include commencing direct flights from Nairobi to Hargeisa.

This is no doubt set to face what international observers say may prove to be a herculean task, albeit temporarily.

During his two day state visit, Bihi struck a consensus with Kenyatta that will now see Kenyan airlines commence direct flights between Nairobi and Hargeisa by the end of March, 2021.

In the move, senior government officials on a pre-determined list and travelling to Kenya on Somaliland travel documents will now be able to apply for an e-visa and receive visa on arrival.

All this has a time frame of until March next year.

The news comes in the wake of the Federal Government of Somalia through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tuesday Morning unexpectedly announcing that it had severed diplomatic ties with Kenya.

Somalia cited interference and violation of her sovereignty and territorial integrity by Nairobi.

Somalia directed its diplomats to return home at the same time directing Kenyan envoys to leave Mogadishu in the next 7 days.

And though Kenya Tuesday morning announced through government spokesperson Col. (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna that a committee had been formed to resolve the stalemate between the nations, the quest for a fully operational direct flight plan might prove difficult.

If a truce is not struck between the two nations, Kenya will be barred from accessing the Somalian airspace until the stalemate is resolved.

Currently, weekly trips to Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital are plied by Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airways.

In one of the flights, the planes flies from Nairobi to Hargeisa via Addis Ababa while the second alternative is from Nairobi to Hargeisa via Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital.

With access to Somalia’s airspace under threat in the current dispensation, direct flights to Hargeisa might now be forced to go through Ethiopia once approved by the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, (ECAA) which Kenya already enjoys warm relations under the Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy’s administration.

If push comes to shove, Kenya and by association Ethiopia will tailor make flights directly from the international Airport to Hargeisa International Airport and the under refurbishment Berbera Airport which will serve as a critical trade route for cargo at the Berbera port for both domestic and international investors.

Meanwhile as the relationship between Kenya and Somaliland seems to be blossoming, Kenya, the big brother in the region hopes to charm her other brother, Somalia once gain.