Former Somali PM Denied South Africa Visa in Nairobi, Sparks Diplomatic Tension

 

 

Former Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has reportedly been denied a visa to travel to South Africa, despite applying through the South African High Commission in Nairobi.

 

Diplomatic Passport Suspension & Allegations

 

Reports suggest that the Somali government suspended Roble’s diplomatic passport, further complicating his travel plans. His request for assistance from the Somali Embassy in Nairobi was also allegedly denied.

However, Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, denied these claims, insisting that the issue was purely on the South African side.

 

“We issued the letter that former Prime Minister Roble requested. It is not true that the Somali government refused to provide a recommendation letter for his visa application,” Fiqi told VOA America.

 

Claims of Political Targeting

 

While Roble has not commented, his former minister and close ally, Abdullahi Arab, suggested that the visa denial was politically motivated and orchestrated by Mogadishu. In response, Roble reportedly used his Swedish passport instead.

 

Security Concerns Behind Visa Denial

 

A Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, speaking anonymously, revealed that South African authorities raised security concerns about certain individuals in Roble’s six-member delegation, alleging links to terrorism and drug smuggling in Somalia.

 

“Some names raised red flags, which is why South Africa did not accept the visa applications for the six individuals. Only the former prime minister was approved,” the official stated.

 

This incident adds to growing diplomatic tensions between Somalia and South Africa, as well as internal divisions within Somali politics.