MOGADISHU, Somalia, Dec, 2 – A full blown diplomatic row is shaping out between Kenya and Somalia, the latest in months.
While Nairobi has taken a more diplomatic approach, Mogadishu is not backing down from a war of words, even after recalling the Ambassador.
They also sent the Kenyan Ambassador to Somalia back to the country “to allow more consultations” over accusations of interfering with internal affairs, but Nairobi dismissed the claims as “unsubstantiated.”
What’s cooking between the two neighbours united in the hip not by boundaries alone but a people of same origin and unending security threat posed by the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shaaab terror group?
On Wednesday, Federal Republic of Somalia Minister of Information Osman Dubbe accused Kenya of being greedy particularly over her land and water territories.
The two countries are pitted in an international litigation over a maritime dispute- over a small section rich with sea minerals, an envy for many nations from the Middle East to Europe.
“We have worked with the Kenya government on upholding the security and stability of both our countries. We have even taken the philosophy of, the enemy of my neighbour is my enemy but the Kenyan government has chosen to behave like the Tigray regime of Ethiopia who used to meddle in our internal affairs but we all Know how they ended up,” a tough speaking Dubbe said.
The Somali Minister of Information was making reference to the end of a near 3 decade rule of Ethiopia by the minority Tigray leadership until 2018 when Ahmed Abiy was elected as the first Prime Minister from the majority Oromo group.
It’s a storm that’s emerging at a time the incumbent Somali President, Mohammed ‘Faraamjo” Abdullahi is eyeing a second and final term in what diplomatic pundits say is meant to increase his chances of winning.
Somali has also accused the Kenya Defence Forces, (KDF) who have been in the country under a 22,000 strong AMISOM troops for a decade in well coordinated peace efforts, of withdrawing their troops from key bases without notifying the federal government.
Reports indicate Al-Shabaab recently reclaimed a crucial town within the expansive country but it’s not yet clear under whose military command it was.
“The KDF are here because we allowed them to be under a peace keeping mission agreed also by the United Nations security council. Not long ago, KDF troops were withdrawn from the strategic area of Fafahdhun and Busaar without consultations,” the Information Minister lamented.
The move is said to have compromised the safety of Gedo region.
“Kenya continues to interfere with affairs of the regional state of Jubaland, by coercing its leadership to go against the interest and unity of the people of Somalia, ” the a fiery Minister added.
Jubbaland is one of Somalia’s five semi-autonomous states with its leadership known for having close relationship with Nairobi.
Tension between the two countries is not a new phenomenon.
Last year, Kenya recalled its ambassador after Somalia decided to auction off oil and gas exploration blocks at the centre of a maritime territorial dispute.
The matter is before the International court of justice (ICJ).
Somalia over the weekend issued a statement recalling its Ambassador and in return directed Kenya’s envoy to return, “in a bid to allow further consultations.”
Both countries have enjoyed long bilateral relationship and share a long border and people of a common heritage, but a territorial dispute has put that to test.
Experts are still weighing into the renewed diplomatic tiff but they all agree the forthcoming general elections has everything to do with it.
Others say it might not get of hand due to the unique situation Somalia is in; Kenya hosts hundred of thousands of refugees from Somalia while the Mogadishu elites own property in the leafy suburbs of Nairobi.
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