Kenya Bans Flights to Somalia

(Nairobi, Kenya) Disturbingly, political turmoil in East Africa escalates daily. Kenya today imposed a ban on regular flights to and from Somalia. However, with an application completed a week ahead of time, charter flights will be allowed.

From AllAfrica.com:

Concerns about possible terrorist attacks from Somalia have been raised lately, with the United States warning last week that both Kenya and Ethiopia could be targets of suicide attacks by "extremist elements" from Somalia.

The British minister of State, Dr Kim Howells, who visited Kenya early this month also warned that the threat of terrorism targeting British interests in Kenya was real.

The uncertain situation in Somalia, coupled with a porous and expansive border made Kenya a soft target for terrorists, said Dr Howells, who is in charge of counter-terrorism.

Note that 'extremist elements' refer to the fundamentalist Islamic Courts Union which is linked to al-Qaeda and led by Sheik Sharif Shaykh Ahmed. Also note the belief that a porous and expansive border makes a soft target. Hmmm ... imagine that? Kenya should export that particular thought to the U.S.

Averaging ten departures daily, cargo flights to Somalia customarily transport sugar, textile, electronics, bottled water, fresh vegetables, butter, milk and miraa (khat). Miraa or khat is an addictive, narcotic drug used extensively in East Africa and a major Kenyan cash crop.

One may presume that the 'extremist elements' in Somalia are fairly glassy-eyed from khat as they traipse through the countryside capturing village after village. With khat shipments halted, it's possible that the Islamists will be drawn toward invading the drug-growing region of northern Kenya, through the porous border, of course.