The government of Somalia on 30th of June 2019, summoned the Kenyan Ambassador to the Horn of Africa country to protest what it termed as offensive communications which signal affronting the country’s sovereignty and its good neighborliness.
Through its ministry of information, Mogadishu issued a statement Monday 1st July 2019 claiming that it summoned the Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to the Federal Republic of Somalia Lt. General (Rtd) Lucas Tumba and handed him a protest note against an offensive tweet by Kenya’s Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Macharia Kamau on 27th June 2019. According to Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mogadishu considers the communique an affront to Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity as well as harmful to the relationship between Kenya and Somalia. And in an effort to de-escalate the simmering row, Mogadishu claimed that it stands for good-neighborliness, mutual respect and close cooperation with its neighbors, and expects the same from Nairobi.
What Next?
Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued a statement in response to the protest note. However, going by its current mood, Nairobi is focused on achieving core security and economic objectives in the region. The threat of terrorism emanating from Somalia remains a critical threat to regional trade and diplomatic goals. It is unlikely Nairobi will respond to the protest note.
Being the dominant player, responding to the note will signal eagerness to resume talks and ease the tough sanctions it imposed on Mogadishu, and that, as the intended objective, will lessen its grip on the leverage it has so far. The Somaliland claim seems to have affected Mogadishu and hurt at the core. The sober protest note is a pale olive branch and bait.
