The Horn of Africa nation, Somalia through its Information Minister Osman Abukar Dubbe noted that it will withdraw its diplomats from Kenya and subsequently gave Kenyan diplomats seven days to leave Mogadishu.
Without specifying the reasons of escalating the latest tiff between Nairobi and Mogadishu, however its noteworthy the rift came after a report of Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi visit in Nairobi. President Abdi’s state visit appeared to have angered the administration of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmaajo’.
The President of the semi-autonomous Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi was received by Kenyan President on Monday, 14th December 2020. The President left Hargesia on 13th December 2020 and was accompanied by several members of his cabinet for three-day official visit. The two leaders led their delegations where bilateral talks followed.
According to Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stronger relations between Kenya and Somaliland would bolster security, economic and social interactions between the two parties. Intensified cooperation is being sought in the banking and financial sector to accelerate more investment opportunities for both parties. Kenya Airways flights connecting Nairobi and Hargeisa to enhance trade and movement is carefully being explored.
There has been a buildup of frosty relations between Kenya and her neighbor Somalia. From the maritime dispute to claims of interference. Mogadishu has been on the onslaught accusing Kenya of interfering with internal affairs, claims Nairobi has severally disputed and termed as baseless.
Security pundits have weighed on the current tiff and underscored that Somalia escalating the matter is uncalled for and will have dire ramification in regional cooperation more so on the fight against the Islamist militants. Already, two weeks ago, Mogadishu expelled Kenya’s ambassador and recalled its own ambassador from Nairobi.
Kenya has been very accommodating to hundreds of Somalis at Dadaab refugee camps. Kenya is also a major contributor of troops to the African Union-led force, AMISOM supporting the weak federal forces in the fight against the Islamist militants.
Somalia’s tone might jeopardize the current counterterrorism efforts already gained by creating a vacuum that terror outfits especially the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Shabaab keenly might exploit. Already large-scale attacks have resumed in a number of Somalia regions and any opportunity they may get they highly likely exploit it to strike the joints troops irrespective.
