Somalia and Kenya Restore their Diplomatic Ties After Qatar Mediation

Somalia on Thursday announced the reinstatement of diplomatic ties with Kenya after Qatar successfully meditated the two countries.

“The two governments agree to keep friendly relations based on principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality, cooperation and peaceful coexistence,” Somalia said through the Ministry of Information.

Somalia had cut ties with Kenya back in December 2020, after it accused Nairobi of meddling in its internal political affairs. This was after Kenya hosted the president of Somaliland, a breakaway region in the northwest of Somalia that has not yet gained international recognition as a state.

Mogadishu had also accused Nairobi of interfering in the electoral process of Jubaland, a region in southern Somalia where Kenyan troops are stationed as part of the African Union peacekeeping mission.

The two countries have also had an outstanding dispute over part of the Indian Ocean with both countries claiming ownership of the same part of the water body.

These diplomatic tensions also caused Kenya, last month to make an announcement saying that it would close the Dadaab refugee camp, which hosts hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees.

However, critics saw this as an extreme retaliation by the Kenyan government against Mogadishu, particularly over the Indian Ocean dispute.

On Tuesday, Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani, Qatar’s special envoy for counter-terrorism and mediation of conflict resolution, met with Somali’s president, Mr.Mohamed. He said that it was in the best interest that the two countries supported each other.

“We hope this step will bring prosperity to the two neighboring countries, their people and the region,” he said

The restored diplomatic ties look to bring back good trade between both countries among many other advantages.

By Joy Ngoiri