Somalia restores diplomatic ties with Kenya through Qatar mediation  

Somalia severed relations with Kenya in Dec 2020, blaming Nairobi for meddling in its internal political affairs and upcoming elections after Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe retreated from Sep 17 poll deal.

News Keydmedia Online
6 May 2021

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Somali government has restored diplomatic relations with Kenya on Thursday, days after Farmajo whose four-year term as the country’s president ended last February handed over power to Roble.

The deputy information minister of Somalia Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala has announced the resumption of the historic ties with neighboring Kenya after secret talks mediated by Qatar.

"In interest of good neighborliness, Somalia resumes diplomatic ties with Kenya based on mutual benefit and respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-external interference, peaceful co-existence & equality. Somalia and Kenya leaders thank Emir of Qatar for his good offices in this regard," said the office of the Somali president.

Somalia severed relations with Kenya in Dec 2020, blaming Nairobi for meddling in its internal political affairs and upcoming elections after Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe retreated from Sep 17 poll deal.

Nairobi has not yet released a statement in regard to the Mogadishu decision.

Somalia’s Federal Government has ordered all its diplomats in Kenya to leave within seven days while also ordering Kenyan diplomats in Mogadishu to quit within the same period.

Kenya is one of the troop-contributing East African countries to the AU Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] and its forces have been operating in Gedo and Middle Juba region since 2011.

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