11 May 2021 | 05:11 PM UTC Kenya: Authorities suspend all flights to and from Somalia until at least Aug. 9 Kenyan officials suspend all flights to and from Somalia from May 11 until Aug. 9; UN and medical flights exempted from ban. TIMEFRAME expected from 5/11/2021, 5:11 PM until 8/9/2021, 11:59 PM (UTC). COUNTRY/REGION Kenya, Somalia Event The Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) has sent a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) stating that all flights between Kenya and Somalia have been suspended from May 11 until at least Aug. 9. All UN and medical flights are exempted from the ban. KCAA did not immediately announce the rationale for the action. Context The decision comes after Somalia extended an existing ban on flights carrying Kenyan miraa (khat) May 9. Diplomatic relations between Kenya and Somalia have recently been restored following mediation by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar. Somalia cut diplomatic ties in late December due to Kenya's perceived interference in the internal affairs of Somalia. The Somali Federal Government (SFG) had accused Nairobi of meddling in Jubaland, a semi-autonomous Somali region bordering Kenya.