A minister from Jubaland who has been supporting Kenya Defense Forces activities in Somalia was on Saturday arrested by authorities in Mogadishu.
Abdirashid Janan was caged at Aden Abdulle Airport for several hours by President Mohammed Farmaajo's administration, in a move that could strain Kenya's relationship with Somalia.
Modadishu authorities accuse the KDF allied minister, who plays a major role in President Ahmed Madobe's Jubbaland government, of allegedly committing crimes in Gedo region.
Gedo is in Jubbaland and is manned by Kenya Defense Forces. The KDF team has been working with Madobe's administration to flush out Al-Shabaab militants.
"Somali regional minister “wanted” by Interpol arrested at Mogadishu airport. Deputy Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources says Abdirashid Janan of Jubaland has “committed crimes” against the people of Gedo and neighbouring zones," wrote Harun Maruf.
This comes barely two days after Farmaajo's administration banned aircrafts from directly landing at Kismayo Airport, which has been under KDF troops.
Last week, President Mohammed Farmaajo's administration accused Kenya of imposing President Ahmed Madobe, the commander of Ras Kamboni Brigade, as president of Jubbaland region.
So divisive were the polls that Kenya Defense Forces blocked Ethiopian plane from landing at Kismayo Airport.
Thereafter, the KDF team and Jubbaland authorities closed down the airport.
A staff member at Kismayo airport, who gave his name as Ismail, said the plane took off from Gode in southeastern Ethiopia and eventually landed in the Somali town of Baidoa.
It was not certain if the plane was civilian or military.
"It wanted to land at Kismayo airport but was denied clearance because it did not send information in advance," Ismail told Reuters by telephone.