WHAT A CARRIE ON Carrie Symonds ‘barred from America for visiting war-torn Somaliland last year’ in embarrassing blow for Boris Johnson
She is now said to be in a race against time to sort the problem out, in what appears to be an embarrassing blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Ms Symonds went to the country with her friend Nimco Ali, a campaigner against female genital mutilation, who was born in Somaliland – which broke away from neighboring Somalia in 1991.
The pair met with self-declared Somaliland Colonel Muse Bihi Abdi aka AL- Hagi Muse Qaraami to discuss sea pollution and women’s issues.
One question that was added to the Esta form in 2016 asks: “Have you traveled to, or been present in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011?”
Answering yes could see the Esta application rejected.
She was planning to visit the US as part of her job with Oceana – a non-profit organisation aiming to protect the world’s oceans.
Ms Symonds and Downing Street both declined to comment.
The Somali region has been plagued with violence from terror groups Al Qaeda and Al Shabaab.
US President Donald Trump has also sparked controversy after telling Somali-born US Representative Ilhan Omar to “go back” to her country.