Jibril Abdirashid Haji becomes first Somali Cabinet minister to renounce Kenyan citizenship as Mogadishu enforces new rule on dual nationality.
🇸🇴 SOMALIA | ASAL POST
MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji has officially surrendered his Kenyan citizenship and passport, becoming the first member of Somalia’s federal Cabinet to comply with a directive issued by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud requiring ministers holding Kenyan passports to renounce them or leave government.
Jibril handed over his Kenyan passport on Monday to Kenya’s Deputy Ambassador to Somalia, Elias Bare Shill, during a ceremony in Mogadishu, marking the first public compliance with the President’s directive.
The move follows a Cabinet meeting held last Thursday, where President Hassan Sheikh instructed ministers holding Kenyan passports to choose between retaining their positions in government or giving up their Kenyan travel documents.
Under the directive, Cabinet members affected by the order are expected to surrender their Kenyan passports immediately or vacate their offices.
Directive Follows Immigration Disputes
The presidential order comes after months of heightened scrutiny by Kenyan immigration authorities over senior Somali officials allegedly holding Kenyan travel documents.
Jibril’s decision follows an incident in June 2026, when he was deported from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) after Kenyan immigration officials questioned his alleged possession of a Kenyan passport.
According to Kenyan authorities, the Deputy Prime Minister entered the country using a valid Somali diplomatic passport and visa but was suspected of also holding a Kenyan passport. Officials said he declined to surrender the document, insisting that any handover would only be done through a court process. He was detained overnight before being deported to Mogadishu.
The incident attracted diplomatic attention and reignited debate over senior Somali government officials reportedly holding dual citizenship.
Cabinet Divided Over Directive
Sources familiar with the Cabinet meeting said President Hassan Sheikh argued that members of Somalia’s federal government should not continue holding Kenyan passports while serving in senior public office.
However, the directive reportedly triggered sharp debate among Cabinet members.
Several ministers questioned the legal basis of the order, arguing that Somalia’s Constitution and legal framework recognize dual citizenship and do not prohibit dual nationals from serving in public office.
The ministers reportedly maintained that holding a second nationality does not diminish loyalty to Somalia or disqualify an individual from serving in government.
The disagreement has exposed divisions within the Cabinet and raised uncertainty over how the directive will be implemented.
More Ministers Face Decision
Jibril has now become the first Somali Cabinet minister to formally renounce Kenyan citizenship since the directive was announced.
It remains unclear how many ministers currently hold Kenyan passports or whether others will comply with the presidential order in the coming days.
The development comes as Somalia and Kenya continue to maintain close cooperation on security, trade and regional affairs, even as Kenyan authorities tighten verification of travel documents used by foreign officials.
Political observers say the issue is likely to remain a subject of debate within Somalia’s leadership as ministers weigh the legal and political implications of the President’s directive.
