Uhuru and PM Roble agree to reset Kenya-Somalia relations

NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta held talks with Somalia's Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble in State House Mombasa, with both parties agreeing to reset the relationship between the two nations which had rocked the bottom low in recent weeks.

Somalia and Kenya have been having a troubled relationship, ranging from the controversial Indian Ocean maritime border row which has been subjected to the International Court of Justice [ICJ] to persistent claims of interference by Kenya, which Nairobi has repeatedly denied.

According to State House, Kenyatta, who led the talks, said there's a need to collaborate more in areas such as security, trade, and investment by fully implementing the 2015 Joint Commission for Cooperation [JCC].

“Prosperity of our people is key. Let us open a new page for our people by encouraging people-to-people and interactions,” President Kenyatta said.

The Kenyan president also welcomed the restoration of diplomatic ties between Nairobi and Mogadishu besides calling for an amicable resolution of the maritime border dispute. The case is currently being arbitrated at ICJ.

Uhuru further emphasized the importance of stability in national and regional development saying, economic growth is only possible in a peaceful environment, State House added.

“Without peace, there cannot be prosperity. Let us focus on providing services to our people. This can only be possible if we work together to root out terrorism. It’s time to improve trade and sort out immigration issues to allow increased people-to-people interactions," the President told his Somali visitor.

He welcomed the restoration of the Kenya-Somalia diplomatic ties and called for an amicable resolution of the maritime border dispute.

Roble, who assumed office in October 2020, regretted the recent deterioration of relations between Kenya and Somalia saying, it was an error for the two nations to forsake the vision of unity held by the founding fathers of the two nations.

He acknowledged the historical relationship that exists between Kenya and Somalia, saying the friendship is based on “good neighbourliness, cooperation, stability, and mutual respect".

“Today is the beginning of a strong and deep relationship of our brotherhood. Somalia will work hard to strengthen the Joint Commission for Cooperation in the interest of both peoples, their unity and stability and beyond the region and the continent,” PM Roble said through a translator.

“We will look for opportunities that lead to lasting stability and peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect and genuine cooperation while avoiding anything that could harm that relationship,” he assured.

During the meeting, Uhuru was accompanied to the bilateral meeting by Cabinet Secretaries Raychelle Omamo (Foreign Affairs) and Peter Munya (Agriculture) among other senior Government Officials. Roble also had a litany of officials.

His trip had triggered divisions in Somalia, with some high-placed sources claiming that outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo had opposed the move. Farmaajo's regime has often been had on and off relationships with Kenya.

Roble is now expected to get to Kenya's capital Nairobi where he will meet a host of Somalis living in the East Africa nation. Later, he will visit the Somali embassy in Kenya, just hours after Ms. Omamo also presided over the opening of Kenya's embassy in Mogadishu.

GAROWE ONLINE