Somalia: Kenya, Somalia Tiff Hurts Sh16m-a-Day Miraa Trade
16 December 2020
By Gerald Andae
Miraa farmers will have to wait longer before they regain access to the Sh16 million-a-day Somalia market following the latest move by the Horn of Africa state to severe diplomatic ties with Kenya.
The diplomatic row comes at a time when Kenya, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been engaging with their Somalia counterparts to resolve the stalemate that has seen Kenya lose millions of shillings in foreign earnings after the stimulant was banned from accessing that market.
Somalia yesterday announced that it had cut diplomatic ties with Kenya, just a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta hosted Somaliland leader Muse Bihi, with Mogadishu claiming that the move was an affront to its sovereignty.
Daily Monitor
Thursday December 17 2020
Kenyan soldiers at their base in Tabda, inside Somalia, near the border with Kenya. As part of the African Union peacekeeping forces in Somalia, Kenya has more than 3,600 troops stationed in the country. PHOTO/AFP
Summary
Meanwhile, residents of Kenya’s Mandera County on Tuesday reported an escalated deployment of Somali National Army troops at the border point even as Opposition supporters in Mogadishu protested President Farmaajo’s refusal to hold dialogue on controversial electoral teams.
Kenya became the second country in a year after Guinea, with which Somalia has cut ties over the Somaliland issue.
What you need to know:
The diplomatic row comes at a time when Kenya has been engaging with their Somalia counterparts to resolve the stalemate.
Somalia currently allows Ethiopia to export its khat to the country, technically locking out Kenya out of this crucial market.
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Miraa farmers will have to wait longer before they regain access to the Sh16 million-a-day Somalia market following the latest move by the Horn of Africa state to severe diplomatic ties with Kenya.
The diplomatic row comes at a time when Kenya, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been engaging with their Somalia counterparts to resolve the stalemate that has seen Kenya lose millions of shillings in foreign earnings after the stimulant was banned from accessing that market.
Kenya & Somalia relations are disintegrating
December 16, 2020
One week after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Kenya on a two-day state visit, Nairobi and Mogadishu have taken their long-running squabbles into a crisis.
Ethiopia has outsized influence in Mogadishu and helped diffuse similar tensions in 2019 but the country is currently trapped in an internal conflict in the Tigray region and a spat with the Egyptians over the Grand Renaissance dam.
Now, ahead of an early general election next year, President Mohamed Farmajo of Somalia feels that Kenya wants to influence his country’s politics through its sway over Jubaland regional government- President Ahmed Madobe and latest invitation of Muse Bihi of Somaliland, a breakaway state.
Miraa growers hit as Kenya-Somalia tiff escalates
Wednesday December 16 2020
A farmer picks miraa at Maili Tatu in Igembe Central on June 16, 2016 . FILE PHOTO | NMG
By GERALD ANDAE
Summary
Somalia on Tuesday announced that it had cut diplomatic ties with Kenya, just a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta hosted Somaliland leader Muse Bihi, with Mogadishu claiming that the move was an affront to its sovereignty.
Somalia currently allows Ethiopia to export its khat to the country, technically locking out Kenya out of this crucial market.
Kenya’s miraa export to Somalia stopped in March following the suspension of flights following the outbreak of Covid-19. In August, Mogadishu allowed the resumption of flights with the exception of those carrying miraa.