The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this week
cautioned its airlines against flying over certain territories of Kenya’s
airspace.
Through a statement seen by Ureport, the FAA said that the
cross-border militant activity originating in Somalia posed a potential risk to
the US civil aviation operating into, out of, within or over the territory and
airspace of Kenya east of 40 degrees east longitude at altitudes below Flight
Level (FL) 260.
The FAA said that Al-Shabaab has access to, a variety of
weapons, including small arms; indirect fire weapons, such as mortars and
rockets; and anti-aircraft-capable weapons, including man-portable air defense
systems (MANPADS) that can cause extensive damage.
“Al-Shabaab has previously demonstrated the capability and
intent to use MANPADS against civil aviation. Despite Kenyan security efforts,
al-Shabaab continues to plot high-profile attacks in Kenya, as demonstrated by
the January 2019 attack on the DusitD2 compound and the 2013 attack on the
Westgate Mall.
“In addition to high-profile attacks, al-Shabaab has
conducted multiple small-scale attacks against ground-based targets in eastern
Kenya in the Kenya-Somalia border region.
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“Due to continued concerns over the risk to U.S. civil
aviation in eastern Kenya in the Kenya-Somalia border region and the coastal
region of Kenya adjacent to Somalia, areas in which al-Shabaab continues to
operate, U.S. operators and airmen are advised to exercise caution when
operating into, out of, within, or over the territory and airspace of Kenya
east of 40 degrees east longitude at altitudes below FL260.
“Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (HKJK) and Moi
International (HKMO) are not within the area covered by the flight advisory,”
read the statement in part.
On Thursday, the US Embassy also warned that terrorist
groups may be plotting an attack against a major hotel in Nairobi.
The exact hotel has not been identified, but it is believed
to be a hotel popular with tourists and business travelers.