The government of Kenya has announced plans to reopen its embassy in Somalia. Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed the report and said the moves follows an invitation Mogadishu. The latest gesture means the two countries have gone back to normal relations, even though the two sides still need to resolve a number of pending issues.
“The government of the republic of Kenya welcomes and acknowledges the invitation by the Federal Government of Somalia to restore diplomatic relations between Somalia and Kenya. The Government of the Republic of Kenya will proceed to reopen its embassy in Mogadishu as soon as possible. Further, the government of the republic of Kenya invites the ambassador of the federal republic of Somalia to Kenya back to Nairobi to resume duties,”said the Ministry.
Resumption of duties
These moves pave the way for Kenya’s Ambassador to Somalia Maj-Gen (Rtd) Lucas Tumbo and Somalia’s Mohamud Nur Tarzan can resume their duty stations, if the governments retain them Kenya also reopened its airspace to Somalia flights, and Mogadishu and statement from Somalia noted that they have for the second time normalized relations with Kenya, bringing to an end six months of diplomatic bickering between the two countries.
“In the spirit of good neighbourliness, the Federal Republic of Somalia calls on the Republic of Kenya to re-open its diplomatic mission in Somalia, and the Federal Government of Somalia will reciprocally re-open its embassy in Kenya. The resumption of full diplomatic relations will be a positive start to the commencement of bilateral discussions between the two countries” said the statement.
