Somaliacuts diplomatic ties with Kenya citing violation of territorial integrity

Somalia on Tuesday severed diplomatic ties with Kenya citing interference and violation of her territorial integrity.

The country’s Minister of Information Osman Dubbe, speaking at 1:40 am Mogadishu time on state-run SNTV, recalled all Somalia’s back to Mogadishu and ordered all Kenyan diplomats to leave within 7 days.

According to Dubbe, Kenya has constantly meddled in Somalia’s internal affairs and politics.

This comes a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta hosted bilateral talks between Kenya and the visiting Somaliland delegation led by President Musa Bihi Abdi at State House, Nairobi.

The two leaders, according to a statement to newsrooms by State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena Mararo, initiated discussions on a number of subjects of mutual interest between Kenya and Somaliland.

“The two delegations are set to meet again Tuesday, 15th December 2020, to finalize the talks,” read the statement.

Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a since deleted tweet, however downplayed President Bihi’s visit to Nairobi saying Somaliland has no legitimacy to deal directly with Kenya.

“Somaliland is a Federal Member State of Somalia. It therefore has no legitimacy to deal directly with Kenya especially now that we have severed our diplomatic ties,” read the tweet.

“Muse Bihi’s visit to Nairobi undermines the sovereignty of Somalia and must be treated with the contempt it deserves.”

Somalia late last month expelled Kenyan Ambassador to Mogadishu Lt. General (Rtd) Lucas Tumbo over alleged interference in the upcoming elections.

Somalia envoy to Kenya Ahmed Nuur Tarzan was also summoned back ‘for consultations’.

“The Federal Government of Somalia notes the Kenyan Government’s attempt to infringe upon the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia and hereby express its deepest regret with the Kenyan Government’s continuous interferences in the internal and political affairs of Somalia,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement.