Somali news outlets reported late Monday that Kenya had denied a number of lawmakers access into the country, the latest round of a diplomatic standoff between the two neighbours. “Dalsan Media has learnt that the Somali Embassy in Nairobi unsuccessfully interced on behalf of the three,” they added in a follow up tweet. A Voice of America journalist disclosed that all three persons were carrying diplomatic passports by the Kenyan authorities roundly rejected issuing them visas. Harun Maruf quoted sources that said other government officials who were allowed into Kenya were those that produced alternative passports upon the refusal of the Somali version. A mediation effort led by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed seemed to have yielded positive results with Kenya and Somalia agreeing to deescalate tense relations.

Source: Ethiopian News May 21, 2019 01:52 UTC