By Joy Kyalo
Somalia has today cut 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.
Dubbe mentioned that Kenya has constantly meddled in Somalia’s internal affairs and politics.
“Somalia wants all its diplomats to go back to Mogadishu and Kenyan diplomats have seven days to leave the country,’’ Dubbe said.
This act comes a day after Somaliland President Muse Bihi arrived in Kenya on December 13, for bilateral talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi.
According to a statement by State House Spokesperson, the discussions was on a number of subjects of mutual interest between Kenya and Somaliland.
The talks are expected to conclude today before issuing a joint statement.
“The two delegations are set to meet again Tuesday, 15th December 2020, to finalize the talks,” read the statement.
Through its Foreign Affairs, Somalia in a tweet said Bihi’s visit must be treated with all contempt it deserved though the tweet was later deleted.
Part of the tweet read that Somaliland is the federal Member State of Somalia it, therefore, has no legitimacy to directly deal with Kenya especially now that they have severed their diplomatic ties.
It also read, “Muse Bihi’s visit to Nairobi undermines the sovereignty of Somalia and must be treated with the contempt it deserves”.
But Somaliland through its Foreign Affairs responded by saying such an irrelevant statement by Somalia shows nothing but only failure and irresponsibility.
Somaliland said as an independent country it has a right to make a decision to strengthen its mutual relationship with Kenya which is also an independent country.
“The irrelevant statement from the failed administration of Somalia shows nothing but only failure and irresponsibility. The Republic of Somaliland and The Republic of Kenya are two independent countries which has (sic) the right decision to strengthen their mutual relationship, ” the tweet read