Somalia has today officially reopened its embassy in Nairobi barely seven months after the diplomatic ties between the two countries severed.
Somalia expelled Kenya’s ambassador to Somalia General Lucas Tumbo in November 2020 and the subsequently ordered the closure of the embassy and exit off staff by mid-December.
The horn of Africa nation blamed Kenya for what it called “constant interference” in Somalia’s internal affairs.
Kenya rejected the claims and a team formed by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) to investigate claims returned a ‘no guilty’ verdict, which Somalia rejected.
In May, Qatari special envoy Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani helped broker talks where Somalia initially agreed to resume ties. But after Somali authorities detained Bluebird Aviation aircraft, Kenya closed the airspace between the two countries.
Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya Ahmed Nur Tarsan said embassy has carrying out its diplomatic duities.
Last week, Kenyan ambassador to Somalia, Lucas Tumbo and Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble discussed the need to deepen bilateral relations between the two East African nations, which recently restored ties after a months-long dispute.
