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Somali porters offload sacks of a maize shipment from the World Food Program into a warehouse in the seaport of Mogadishu, Somalia. (AP Photo/Mohamed Sheikh Nor, File)
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AFP) Somalia severed diplomatic ties with Kenya on Tuesday, accusing Nairobi of interfering in its political affairs as Mogadishu prepares for long-awaited elections.
The move came as Kenya confirmed it had hosted the leadership of Somaliland, a breakaway state not recognised by Mogadishu, following months of rising tensions between the two neighbours.
Somalia has bristled over what it calls Kenya’s meddling in regions over its border, while Nairobi has accused Mogadishu of using it as a scapegoat for its own political problems.
Somalia cuts diplomatic ties with Kenya amid rising tensions
by Tom Odula, The Associated Press
Posted Dec 15, 2020 8:32 am EDT
Last Updated Dec 15, 2020 at 8:44 am EDT
NAIROBI, Kenya Somalia’s government says it has severed ties with strategic neighbour Kenya “to safeguard the unity, sovereignty, stability of the country.”
The announcement Tuesday came as the leader of the breakaway territory of Somaliland ended a three-day visit to Kenya where he was given treatment similar to that accorded to a head of state in meetings with the Kenyan leadership.
“The Somali government, on the basis of its sovereignty, international law and order, and in fulfilment of its constitutional duty to safeguard the unity, sovereignty and stability of the country, has decided to cut off diplomatic relations with the Government of Kenya,” said Osman Dubbe, Somalia’s information minister on Twitter.
Somalia Severs Diplomatic Ties With Kenya
Somalia accused its East African neighbor of meddling in its internal affairs, weeks before a crucial general election.
Kenyan soldiers at their base in Tabda, inside Somalia, near the border with Kenya. As part of the African Union peacekeeping forces in Somalia, Kenya has more than 3,600 troops stationed in the country.Credit.Ben Curtis/Associated Press
Published Dec. 15, 2020Updated Dec. 16, 2020
NAIROBI, Kenya Somalia severed diplomatic ties with Kenya on Tuesday, accusing the neighboring East African nation of meddling in its internal political affairs weeks before a crucial general election.
The minister of information said Somalia was breaking off relations because Kenya had violated his country’s sovereignty. In an announcement broadcast on state television, the minister, Osman Dubbe, said Somalia would recall all its diplomats from Kenya and gave Kenyan diplomats seven days to leave the country.
THE STANDARD
KENYA
President Uhuru Kenyatta hosts Somaliland president Musa Bihi Abdi at State House, Nairobi, on December 14, 2020. Hours later Somalia severed her diplomatic relations with Kenya by expelling all Kenyan diplomats. [PSCU, Standard]
Somalia has severed diplomatic ties with Kenya in dead of night citing interference and violation of her sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Somalia Minister of Information Osman Abukar Dubbe announced cutting ties with Kenya at around 1:40 am Mogadishu time on state-run SNTV, hours after President Uhuru held talks with break-away Somaliland President Muse Bihi at State House, Nairobi.
Mogadishu says it will withdraw all its diplomats from Kenya and has ordered Kenyan diplomats to leave the country within 7 days.