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SOMALIA: MOGADISHU STRONG MEN TECHNICALLY BARRED FROM VISITING KENYA October 6, 2005
With the help of Kenyan government, the interim government of Somalia in Jowhar fired its first political shot against the renegade ministerial cabinet members in Mogadishu. A new agreement between the two nations state that any government official who wants to visit Kenya, Somalia’s international gateway must get an approval from the prime minister’s office starting today. It simply means government officials are not allowed to visit Kenya unless the prime minister pre-approves their visits.
This move, if enforced will affect the movement of Mogadishu faction leaders who hold senior ranks in the interim government ranging from minister to deputy minister. These men, who refused to work with the prime minister and the president, are now openly working hard to sabotage the interim government calling it an Ethiopian puppet.
Kenya has been Somalia’s International lifeline since the start of the civil war and this agreement with the interim government willwill have great effect Mogadishu strong men's mobility.
Interim Government Press Release:
All Ministers Deputy Ministers, MPs and Senior Officials of the TFG regardless of the passport or travel document in their possession, seeking to enter and visit Kenya, must seek a letter of Clearance from the Office of the Prime Minister authorizing such a visit.
This comes as a reference to Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs letter of September 22,2005 concerning the facilitation of travel and immigration into Kenya in the spirit of the technical and economic cooperation agreement reached between the countries in September.
All senior officials of the TFG inside Somalia wishing to travel to Kenya should now adhere to this new directive strictly and effectively from today, October 6,2005
Abdirahman Nur Dinaari
Government Spokesman