Kenya has deported Somalia’s Second Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji after he was found to be in possession of a fraudulently obtained Kenyan passport at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Image:
Kenya has deported Somalia’s Second Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Abdirashid Haji over allegations of passport fraud. The Kenya Somalia Deputy Prime Minister deportation was confirmed by Kenyan authorities on Saturday 25 June 2026. Furthermore, Haji allegedly obtained a Kenyan passport fraudulently. As a result, one of Somalia’s most senior government officials has been expelled from a neighbouring country in a significant diplomatic incident.
Kenya Somalia Deputy Prime Minister Deportation: What Happened
Kenyan authorities arrested Jibril Abdirashid Haji at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. He was found to be in possession of a Kenyan passport that authorities allege he obtained through fraudulent means. Furthermore, Kenyan immigration officials confirmed that the passport had not been legally issued to him. As a result, Haji was immediately detained and deported back to Somalia without being permitted to enter Kenya.
Kenya’s Directorate of Immigration Services confirmed the deportation. The directorate stated that Haji was intercepted during routine document verification at the airport. Furthermore, investigations into how the fraudulent Kenyan passport was obtained are ongoing. As a result, the case could expose a wider network of passport fraud involving Kenyan documentation.
Who Is Jibril Abdirashid Haji
Jibril Abdirashid Haji serves as Somalia’s Second Deputy Prime Minister in the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. He is a senior and prominent figure in Somali politics. Furthermore, his alleged possession of a fraudulently obtained Kenyan passport raises serious questions about the integrity of Kenya’s passport issuance system and about the conduct of a serving foreign government minister. As a result, the incident has diplomatic implications that extend beyond a simple immigration enforcement action.
The Diplomatic Dimension
The deportation of a sitting deputy prime minister is an extraordinary diplomatic step. Kenya and Somalia share a long and complex bilateral relationship. The two countries have had disputes over maritime borders, cross-border security and trade in recent years. Furthermore, Somalia’s government had not issued an official public response to the deportation at the time of publication. As a result, the incident has the potential to create further tension between Nairobi and Mogadishu at a sensitive moment in the regional security environment.
The Horn of Africa region is already navigating significant political and security pressures. Somalia continues to face the threat of Al-Shabaab insurgency. Furthermore, Somaliland issued its own order this week for undocumented foreign nationals to leave its territory within 10 days. As a result, the deportation of Haji adds another layer of complexity to an already fragile regional political environment.
The Passport Fraud Context
Passport fraud is a serious and growing problem across the African continent. South Africa’s own Special Investigating Unit revealed earlier this month that a highly organised syndicate of Home Affairs officials had allegedly been selling South African visas, work permits and citizenship for up to R40,000. Furthermore, nine Bangladeshi nationals were intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport attempting to enter South Africa using fraudulent Indian passports and fake South African visas. As a result, the Kenyan deportation of Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister is the latest in a series of significant passport and document fraud incidents making headlines across the continent in June 2026.
Read our earlier coverage: OR Tambo Bangladeshi Nationals Arrested: Nine Caught With Fake Passports and Fraudulent Visas.
For more on African diplomatic developments visit au.int.
Editors Note All information in this article is based on confirmed reports from Kenyan immigration authorities and media reports published on 25 June 2026. Jibril Abdirashid Haji is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All allegations of passport fraud are unproven and will be tested through the appropriate legal processes. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.