Uhuru hosts Somaliland president as somali president withdraws envoy from Kenya
President Uhuru Kenyatta is hosting his Somaliland counterpart Muse Bihi Abdi amidst worsening relations with Somalia.
The visit by the leader of the self-declared country seeks to give Kenya a platform through which Nairobi can have presence in Hargeisa, as it has no diplomatic presence in Somaliland.
President Abdi jetted into the country for a three-day state visit yesterday and was received by Agriculture CS Peter Munya and Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary Ababu Namwamba.
This visit comes after Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also known as Farmaajo, imposed restrictions on Kenyans hoping to travel to the country. At the same time, there has been a maritime dispute that saw Somalia file a case against Kenta at the International Court of Justice in 2014.
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Hours after Somalia severed diplomatic relations with Kenya and gave Kenyan diplomatic staff seven days to leave the country, Government Spokesman retired colonel Cyrus Oguna says Nairobi has constituted a committee to examine the issues causing rifts between her and Mogadishu and will explore diplomatic means to resolve them.
Mogadishu s drastic move comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta hosted President Muse Bihi of the break-away Somaliland at State House Nairobi on Monday.
Addressing the media on Tuesday afternoon in Nairobi, Col. Oguna lamented the deplorable diplomatic relations between the two countries adding that a lot was at stake.
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President Uhuru Kenyatta and Somaliland President Musa Bihi Abdi at Statehouse on Monday, December 14, 2020. [Courtesy, PSCU]
President Uhuru Kenyatta met Somaliland President Musa Bihi Abdi on Monday for bilateral talks to boost cooperation between the two countries.
According to a statement from the State House, the two heads of state held bilateral talks on “subjects of mutual interest” to initiate development projects.
“The two delegations are set to meet again tomorrow, Tuesday, December 15, 2020, to finalize the talks,” read the statement from State House.
The meeting is aimed at creating diplomatic ties between Kenya and Somaliland. This will offer Nairobi an opportunity to have presence in Hargeisa-the capital of Somaliland. The meeting is also geared to strengthen security, social and economic relations between the two countries.
Somaliland President Arrives in Kenya Amid Diplomatic Row [PHOTOS]
President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and Somaliland President Muse Biihi (right).
File
Somaliland President Muse Bihi on Sunday, December 13, arrived in Kenya amid a diplomatic row between the two countries.
Bihi arrived at the JKIA ahead of schedule as he was expected in the country on Monday for a three-day state visit.
According to a press statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Somaliland President will be hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta for talks on matters of mutual interest.
Somaliland President Muse Biihi is welcomed by Ministry Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Ababu Namwamba on Sunday 13 December 2020.
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