Kenya's relationship with Somalia took yet another nose dive on Monday, a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mohamed Farmaajo met to solve Indian Ocean maritime dispute.
This week, the International Court of Justice is set to make a ruling on whether to grant Kenya a period of 12 months to prepare for hearing of the maritime dispute.
At the Hague, Attorney General Kihara Kariuki and Solicitor General Ken Ogeto are fighting to stop November hearing, with President Uhuru Kenyatta lobbying for negotiations.
But on Monday, Somalia reported Kenya again to the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization in Canada over space violation.
Mogadishu accused a Kenyan plane of making direct flight to Kismayo Airport, despite the ban imposed by the federal government early last month.
The plane that violated Somali government ban on direct flights to Kismayo was identified as Fokker 50, registered 5Y-JXJ in Kenya. It was flying under Air Operator’s Certificate of Jubba Airways
"Somalia officially filed a complaint w/ the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) against Kenya over “airspace violation” after a plane flew directly from Nairobi to Kismayo on Oct 5, in violation of Somali govt directive requiring flights to stopover Mogadishu," reports said.
The federal government banned the flights a move that was seen as a plot to further frustrate Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, whose victory in August was disputed by Mogadishu.
Madobe, who enjoys Kenya Defense Forces protection, has since warned Farmaajo over the ban. He is credited for helping KDF kick out Al-Shabaab militants from Kismayo with the help of Ras Kamboni Brigade.
Last week, Kenya insisted that despite the contested issues with Mogadishu, the two countries will continue working closely. Foreign Affairs CAS Ababu Namwamba visited the war torn nation.
“Kenya has always supported reconstruction of Somalia, with the 1st Transitional Government of Abdullahi Yusuf (Ahmed) made and hosted in Nairobi in 2004. The commitment remains,” he said referring to Somalia’s first Transitional President who died in 2012.