Kenya and Somalia
by BorderLiner Saturday, Jan. 06, 2007 at 8:06 PM

Since the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia, Kenya has closed the border to its neighbour and is arresting critics of the invasion in Nairobi, including Somali MPs.

Kenya under President Mwai Kibaki is backing the Ethiopian invasion from December 2006 into Somalia that has now overthrown the rule of Islamic Courts Union under Hassan Aweys. It has closed its border to Somalia. Information about the situation on the Somali side of the border are scarce.

The somali transitional government under Abdullahi Yusuf, previously president of Puntland and warlord took over Mogadishu and the rest of the country. This government is internationally recognized, and has been formed in Nairobi, where exiled somali MP voted for it.

Now, in Kenya, somali MPs have been arrested due to their criticism of the Ethiopian invasion. This is a severe violation of the freedom of speach, which should be guaranteed not only to MPs, but is a human right. This act spreads a bad light on the forces that conducted it and those backed by it.

A group of Somali students was held in Nairobi airport and questioned for hours and only set free as they had an invitation by a U.N. organisation. Kenya is refusing civilians from Somalia refuge, some of which have family in Kenya.

Sources:

http://allafrica.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia

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