Somalia cuts diplomatic ties with Kenya

By: The Standard 

Somalia has severed diplomatic ties with Kenya in dead of night citing interference and violation of her sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Somalia Minister of Information Osman Abukar Dubbe announced cutting ties with Kenya at around 1:40 am Mogadishu time on state-run SNTV.

Mogadishu says it will withdraw all its diplomats from Kenya and has ordered Kenyan diplomats to leave the country within 7 days.

‘’Somalia wants all its diplomats to go back to Mogadishu and Kenyan diplomats have 7 days to leave the country,’’ said Osman Dubbe.

He further added that Somalia decided to officially cut diplomatic ties with Kenya because of the latter’s frequent ‘interference’ with her politics and Kenya always wanting to create problems in Somalia.

The escalation of the diplomatic spat which has led to a ‘divorce’ between Mogadishu and Nairobi comes days after Somaliland President Muse Bihi arrived in Kenya on December 13, for a three-day state visit.

Somalia and Somaliland on Monday, December 14, engaged in a war of words on Twitter where Mogadishu accused Hargeisa of undermining its sovereignty after a delegation led by President Muse Bihi met President Uhuru Kenyatta at Nairobi’s statehouse.

Through its Foreign Affairs, Somalia said Bihi’s visit must be treated with all contempt it deserved.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Somalia later deleted the tweet.

In a rejoinder, Somaliland responded by saying Somalia’s statement was irrelevant, and it shows nothing but only failure and irresponsibility.

Somaliland said it was an independent country which had a right to make decisions to strengthen its mutual ties with Kenya, which is also an independent country.

President Muse Bihi and his delegation are expected to meet Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta later today at State House for talks.

On November 29, Somalia summoned its envoy to Kenya for ‘’consultations’’, accusing Nairobi of interfering with Mogadishu’s electoral process.

Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Mohamed Ali Nur also ordered Kenya’s top diplomat in Mogadishu Lucas Tumbo out of the country.