Somalilandsun: The government of Somalia has given Kenyan diplomats, delegation seven days to leave Mogadishu.
This was announced by Somalia Minister of Information Osman Abukar Dubbe on the 14th December 2020 via state-run SNTV ,revealing that the federal government was cutting all ties with Kenya and that , Mogadishu will in the next 7 days withdraw all its diplomats from Nairobi.
Somalia made the decision due to Kenya’s alleged frequent ‘interference’ with her politics with Mogadishu accusing Nairobi of numerously wanting to create problems in Somalia.
The escalation of the diplomatic spat which has led to a ‘divorce’ came hours after Somaliland President Muse Bihi arrived in Kenya on December 13, for a three-day state visit.
Bihi was hosted for bilateral talks by President Uhuru Kenyatta. The talks concluded with a joint communique in which the two leaders committed to deepening existing bilateral relations between Kenya and Somaliland.
Despite Somalia’s reaction to the Bihi visit in which she alleged that Somaliland was undermining its sovereignty, Presidents Uhuru and Bihi agreed to exchange consular level diplomats latest March 2020. Continue reading Somalia cuts diplomatic ties with Kenya after Bihi’s visit
The government of Somaliland responded by terming the actions from Somalia as very irresponsible and emanating from a failed administration, adding that both Kenya and Somaliland are sovereign nations
Somaliland a former British protectorate withdrew from its 1960 voluntary later turned fateful union with Somalia a former Italian colony three decades ago.
On the other hand Kenya says it has not received any official communication from Somalia about the latter cutting its diplomatic ties.
According to the Ministry of foreign affairs, Kenya can only take up the matter once it was officially notified.
“We are waiting… I think this a question you should be asking their end….why they do public announcements without official communication. I mean we have not received any formal communication,” A senior officer at Kenya’s Foreign Affairs said. HERE
And rather than reciprocating to Somalia in kind , Kenya will form a team to handle the situation together with IGAD and Comesa.
