Somalia restores ties with Kenya

MOGADISHU - Somalia said on Thursday it was restoring diplomatic relations with neighbouring Kenya almost six months after severing ties, accusing Nairobi of meddling in politics.

Relations between the countries have also been tense over the ownership of potential oil and gas deposits, some of which lie off the coast of Jubbaland, one of Somalia’s five semi-autonomous states.

Abdirashid M Hashi, the spokesman for Somalia’s President Mohamed Farmaajo, said Qatar had steered the resumption of relations but did not elaborate how.

“In interest of good neighbourliness, FGS (federal government of Somalia) resumes diplomatic ties with Kenya based on mutual benefit and respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-external interference, peaceful co-existence and equality.

“Somalia and Kenya Presidents thank Emir of Qatar for his good offices in this regard.”

The move seemed likely earlier this week after the Qatar Emir sent his special envoy to Somalia and Kenya.

In Kenya, State House said Dr Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani had delivered a special message from the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Al Thani.

Al-Qahtani, has been Qatari’s Special Envoy of the Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar for Counter- terrorism and Mediation of Conflict Resolution and was largely involved in negotiations between Afghani government and the Talibani, which could allow US troops to pull out without a security vacuum.

In November, Somalia expelled Kenya’s ambassador and recalled its own from Nairobi after accusing Kenya of interfering in the electoral process in Jubbaland.

In February 2019, Kenya recalled its ambassador after Mogadishu decided to auction oil and gas exploration blocks at the centre of their maritime rights dispute. The two countries had revived ties in November the same year.

The two are at present before the World Court to adjudicate the maritime boundary dispute. –