Somalia’s Second Deputy Prime Minister, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, formally surrendered his Kenyan citizenship on Monday following a tense airport dispute.
The high-ranking official personally delivered his passport and legal documentation to Kenya’s Deputy Ambassador in Mogadishu, Elias Barre Shill.
This dramatic gesture severs Haji’s two-decade legacy as a dual citizen, marking a poignant turning point in regional diplomatic relations.
The controversy ignited in June when Kenyan immigration authorities turned Haji away at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport over documentation concerns.
Officials questioned the validity of his Kenyan credentials despite Haji arriving on a valid Somali diplomatic passport with approved visas.
Refusing to let the shadow of fraud allegations linger, Haji fiercely defended the legitimacy of his longstanding Kenyan citizenship status.
He emphasized that relinquishing his papers was not an act of hostility toward Nairobi, but a choice born of duty.
The Deputy Prime Minister warmly praised Kenya as a steadfast brotherly nation that hosted Somali refugees and bolstered regional peacekeeping missions.
However, Haji asserted that holding high public office demands absolute allegiance to a single flag and a unified national identity.
He urged fellow Somalis to travel with unwavering pride, carrying their home country’s diplomatic passport with renewed confidence and dignity.
Moving forward, the leader will rely strictly on his Somali documents as he navigates the delicate landscape of Horn diplomacy.