NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 15- Somalia announced it had severed diplomatic ties with Kenya on Monday night citing interference and violation of her sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Somalia Minister of Information Osman Abukar Dubbe announced cutting ties with Kenya at around 1:40 am Mogadishu time on state-run SNTV.
Somalia said it will withdraw all its diplomats from Kenya and also ordered Kenyan diplomats to leave the country within seven days.
He added Somalia decided to officially cut diplomatic ties with Kenya because of the latter’s frequent ‘interference’ with her politics and Kenya always wanting to create problems in Somalia.
The escalation of the diplomatic spat which has led to a ‘divorce’ between the two neighbors comes 2 days after Somaliland President Muse Bihi arrived in Kenya on December 13, for a three-day state visit.
Somalia and Somaliland had on Monday engaged in a war of words on Twitter.
Mogadishu accused Hargeisa of undermining its sovereignty after a delegation led by President Bihi met President Kenyatta in Nairobi’s statehouse.
The two countries have had strained relations for a while and are even engaged in a legal battle over a territorial dispute.
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi alias Farmaajo is seeking a second term with experts accusing him of riding on anti-Kenya sentiments to increase his chances.
Despite the unending provocation, Nairobi has handled Mogadishu with kids gloves and have instead asked Villa Somalia to focus on delivering to its people.
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