Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji has complied with a presidential directive by surrendering his Kenyan passport, becoming the first federal Cabinet member to do so.
The handover took place on Monday in Mogadishu, where Jibril submitted the document to Kenya's Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, Elias Bare Shill, as reported by local media.
Presidential Directive on Dual Citizenship
The move follows an order issued by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud during a recent Cabinet meeting. The president instructed all ministers holding Kenyan passports to either relinquish them or resign from their government posts immediately.
This directive was prompted by increased scrutiny from Kenyan immigration authorities, who have recently denied entry or deported several Somali officials over concerns related to the use of Kenyan travel documents.
Background and Controversy
- In June, Deputy PM Jibril was deported from Kenya after Kenyan officials alleged he possessed a Kenyan passport alongside his Somali diplomatic passport and refused to surrender it.
- The president's order has faced opposition within the Somali Cabinet, with some ministers arguing that Somali law permits dual citizenship and does not bar public officials from holding multiple nationalities.
- Opponents of the directive maintain that there is no legal requirement for ministers to renounce foreign citizenship to serve in government roles.
Despite the resistance, Jibril's compliance marks a significant step in enforcing the president's policy on foreign passports among Somali officials.
