Somalilandsun: Somaliland President Musa Bihi Abdi, has said his government is pleased with the efforts to establish diplomatic and economic ties with Kenya and that it is not involved in any way in the diplomatic tensions between Kenya and Somalia.
The president’s remarks come at a time when relations between Kenya and Somalia have deteriorated to the point where Somalia has expelled Kenyan diplomats from Mogadishu followed by cessation of Relations as a result of a just concluded visit by the Somaliland president to Nairobi.
In an interview with Voice of America following his return from a three days working visit in Nairobi, the President said his visit to Kenya had nothing to do with the ongoing conflict between Kenya and Somalia and that Somaliland’s goals were to improve economic growth and diplomacy for the benefit of its people.
President Bihi has accused Somalia of never ending attempts to block Somaliland’s cooperation with other countries for a long time.
“What we are doing is improving relations between Somaliland and Kenya. Relations between Kenya and Somalia do not matter. the country with which Somalia will partner” said President Bihi
Somalia has ordered all Kenyan diplomats to leave Mogadishu within seven days as from Tuesday, with its Nairobi diplomats required to leave immediately.
Somali officials claim that Kenya has been interfering in its internal affairs and politics.
Somalia took the initiative when the president of Somaliland was in Kenya for a meeting with Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta.
According to a joint communique, the two leaders agreed to work together on a number of issues, including Kenya to open a small embassy in Hargeisa, Somaliland by March 2021, establish direct flights between Nairobi and Hargeisa, to strengthen trade, agriculture, technology, education, security, and cooperation between highly skilled officials between the two governments, among other things.
According to Horn of Africa political analysts Somalia does not want any country to cooperate directly with Somaliland.
Kenyan government which said it shall not reciprocate in kind says it shall pursue diplomatic means to resolve the dispute with Somalia.
Somaliland withdrew from Somalia in 1991 although its independence has not been recognized by the United Nations, the African Union, or the AU.
Kenya becomes the second country to enter into a conflict with Somalia after Guinea over a deal with Somaliland.
