Somalia cuts diplomatic ties with Kenya

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Somalia’s government is withdrawing its diplomatic staff from Kenya as the country cuts diplomatic ties with the neighbouring country.

Somalia is giving Kenyan diplomats in the country seven days to leave, according to information minister Osman Abukar Dubbe, without confirming the reason for the latest diplomatic rift. Bilateral ties between the two nations have come under increasing pressure in recent years over a number of issues, including a maritime border dispute.

Somalia cuts ties with Kenya

The latest fallout in relations between Somalia and Kenya comes after the reported visit of Muse Bihi Abdi, president of self-proclaimed independent Somaliland in northern Somalia, to the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Monday.

Somalia rejects the independence of Somaliland and accuses Kenya of supporting the state and Ahmed Madobe, president of the Somali southern state of Jubbaland.

The withdrawal of Somali diplomats from Kenya follows the expulsion of Kenya’s ambassador from Mogadishu and the recalling of Somalia’s own ambassador from Kenya, two weeks ago. Ties between the two countries were also cut last year after Mogadishu auctioned off oil and gas blocks in the contested maritime territory claimed by both nations.

Ties were restored in November but tensions have resurfaced throughout 2020.

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About Aaron Brooks

Aaron Brooks is a UK journalist who wants to cut out the international agendas in news. Spending his early years in both England and Northern Ireland he saw the difference between reality and media coverage at an early age. After graduating from the University of Chester with a BA in journalism, his travels revealed just how large the gap between news and the real world can be. As Editor-in-Chief at East Africa Monitor, it’s his job to provide a balanced view of what’s going on in the region for English-speaking audiences.