Jibril Abdirashid Haji says the decision is not directed against Kenya but reflects his choice to serve solely as a Somali citizen following a dispute over his Kenyan passport.
Somalia’s Second Deputy Prime Minister, Jibril Abdirashid Haji, has formally renounced his Kenyan citizenship, returning his Kenyan passport and related documents to the Kenyan Embassy in Mogadishu.
The handover took place on Monday, 3 August 2026, during a visit to the embassy, where Haji presented the documents to Kenya’s Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, Elias Barre Shill. The move ends more than two decades of Kenyan citizenship.
The decision follows a diplomatic and legal dispute that emerged in June, when Kenyan authorities denied Haji entry into the country after raising questions about the manner in which his Kenyan passport had been obtained.
According to Kenyan officials, Haji arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport using a Somali diplomatic passport and a valid visa, but was questioned over concerns linked to his Kenyan citizenship documents. He was subsequently returned to Mogadishu.
Speaking after surrendering the documents, Haji insisted that his Kenyan citizenship had been legitimate and longstanding, rejecting allegations that it had been acquired fraudulently.
“I have decided today to return the Kenyan citizenship I have held and formally relinquish it,” he said. “This decision comes in response to the circumstances that have recently emerged and the challenges facing our people.”
Not hostility
Haji stressed that the move should not be interpreted as hostility toward Kenya, which he described as a close friend, partner and brotherly nation with deep historical, social and economic ties to Somalia.
He acknowledged Kenya’s decades of support for Somali communities, including hosting refugees, providing educational opportunities, facilitating trade and welcoming Somali businesses and investment.
“Kenya and its people remain our brothers and our friends,” he said.
The deputy prime minister also expressed appreciation for Kenya’s contribution to Somalia’s security, including the role of Kenyan troops serving under regional and international missions.
However, he said that, in his capacity as Somalia’s deputy prime minister, he had chosen to move forward solely with his Somali citizenship and identity.
Haji confirmed that he would continue travelling on a Somali diplomatic passport and said he had confidence in Somalia’s national documents.
He also addressed Somali citizens who have reported difficulties while travelling, particularly through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, urging them to remain confident in their nationality.
“I understand the concerns and difficulties that some citizens have experienced,” he said. “But I encourage Somalis to have confidence in their citizenship and to proudly rely on their Somali passport.”
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