Kenya will resume flights to Mogadishu, Somalia effective immediately. This comes on the back of successful bilateral talks between Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Somalia’s Hassan Mohamud in Nairobi on Friday, July 15.
According to a joint communique by the countries’ ministers of Foreign Affairs, Kenya Airways (KQ) will begin scheduled flights to the capital Mogadishu, in lieu of the existing Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA).
Somalia has also allowed the resumption of miraa trade, fish and fish products, in a bid to defrost diplomatic tensions between the two countries and enhance trade cooperation.
“The two countries agreed to facilitate, diversify and promote trade and economic cooperation while at the same time directed the immediate market access of fish and fish products from Somalia to Kenya and vice versa and the resumption of trade in khat (miraa) from Kenya to Somalia, to resume with immediate effect,” a statement from state house read.
Both countries will also process visas for ordinary passport holders within ten working days, and issue free courtesy visas on arrival for dignitaries, and diplomats.
“For holders of Somali Service Passports, Courtesy Visas free of charge/gratis on arrival will be issued within Forty – Eight (48) hours, after completion of Online Visa Application accompanied by a Note Verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,” the communiqué noted.
Kenya and Somalia further agreed to convene Joint Commission for Co-operation (JCC) talks in Mogadishu after the leaders of the two nations ordered the immediate reopening of the Kenya-Somalia border.
The JCC talks will be headed by foreign affairs officials of respective countries in August and will seek to revitalize cooperation between the two countries whose relations had strained in recent years over disagreements on several issues including the status of Somaliland.
Somaliland is a de facto state in the Horn of Africa seeking international recognition as an independent nation.
The talks will cover joint security activities, defense, agriculture, trade, intelligence exchange, health, education, training in various fields, and continuous review of the visa regime.
This was according to a joint communique signed by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Amb Macharia Kamua and his Somali counterpart Amb Mohamed Ali — Nur Hagi.
The meeting at State House Nairobi further gave a green light for immediate market access for fish products from Somalia with Mogadishu reciprocating with resumption of Miraa trade.
Kenyatta and Mohamud directed their respective officials to ensure the implementation of all issues agreed upon within two weeks.