Kenyan authorities on Monday said it will reopen its embassy in Mogadishu as soon as possible, reported Africa News. The decision to open the embassy is in line with the invitation by Mogadishu to fully restore diplomatic missions between the two neighboring countries.
The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited the Somali ambassador to the country to return to Nairobi and resume his duties.
The embassy was closed since December when Somalia severed diplomatic ties after Nairobi hosted the leadership of Somaliland, a breakaway state not recognized by the central government in Mogadishu. The Kenyan ambassador was expelled and Mogadishu recalled its envoy from Nairobi.
“The Kenyan government will proceed to reopen its embassy in Mogadishu as soon as possible,” the ministry said in a statement.
The latest development came after Kenya lifted its ban on flights to and from Somalia last week, after a nearly one-month ban amid a diplomatic spat between the two countries. The Kenyan government had suspended all flights to Somalia in May, with the exception of humanitarian deliveries and medical evacuation flights.
Somalia also welcomed the resumption of flights and reiterated its commitment to restore and accelerate diplomatic, trade, and people-to-people relations for the overall prosperity of the two countries.
Notably, existing COVID-19 protocols continue to be applicable to all passengers traveling to Kenya remain in place as communicated by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. They include among others possession of a valid COVID-19 negative PCR test certificate, conducted within 96 hours before travel by all passengers entering the Kenyan territory.
The two East African neighbors, who share a 700-kilometer border, have had tumultuous relations. In December 2020, Somalia severed its diplomatic ties with neighboring Kenya, accusing Nairobi of frequently violating Mogadishu’s sovereignty which the latter denied. Kenya has accused Mogadishu of seeking a scapegoat for its internal problems.
Mogadishu restored diplomatic relations with Nairobi in May with mediation by Qatar.
