Somalia faults Kenya's plans to close Dadaab and Kakuma camps

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia has questioned Kenya's plans to close the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps, which have been hosting thousands of refugees from Somalia and South Sudan, in a move that could further strain the relationship between the two countries.

Early this week, Kenya, through Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang'i, issued an ultimatum to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees [UNHCR], demanding that the two camps should be closed down without negotiations.

Nairobi said the UN body should use a maximum of 14 days to adhere to the directive, something which caught Mogadishu off guard. Kenya did not give a reason to the effect of the decision but it's been at loggerheads with Somalia.

"CS Fred Matiangi issues UNHCR with a 14-day ultimatum to have a road map on definite closure of Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps. Says no room for further negotiations," read the statement, which was issued last week.

But on Friday, outgoing Information Minister Osman Abukar Dubbe said Mogadishu was concerned with the decision by Nairobi, arguing that the move was a strategy to politicize humanitarian issues contrary to international laws.

However, the vocal minister did not reveal immediate decisions that Somalia will take to salvage the situation. It's not the first time Kenya is pushing for the closure of the camps, claiming that they have been used as terror-breeding cells in the country.

The decision comes at the time Kenya is at loggerheads with Somalia over the oil-rich maritime border with Kenya along the Indian Ocean. The case is going on at the International Court of Justice [ICJ] at The Hague.

GAROWE ONLINE