The High Court in Kenya has blocked the government's bid to close the largest refugee camp in the world.
A directive to shut the Dadaab camp and forcibly repatriate about 260,000 Somali refugees living there was issued last year.
The deadline for its closure had been extended until May, but a high court judge ruled the decision was tantamount to an act of group persecution.
The government says it will appeal against the ruling on security grounds.
It said that attacks on its soil by the Somalia-based al-Shabab group had been planned in the camp.
"The camp had lost its humanitarian nature and had become a haven for terrorism and other illegal activities," Kenyan government spokesman Eric Kiraithe said.
"The lives of Kenyans matter. Our interest in this case, and in the closure of Dadaab refugee camp, remains to protect the lives of Kenyans," he added.
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