Kenya puts on kid gloves as talks to restore diplomatic ties with Somalia starts

NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 15- Kenya has moved in to rescue an ugly diplomatic war with Somalia, hours after Mogadishu cut all ties and directed its diplomats to leave Nairobi in 7 days.

But Kenya is moving quick to beat the deadline and have the diplomatic ties between the two neighbouring countries return to normal.

National Government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna without divulging further details said a committee had been formed to quell further tension between the two countries.

It is not clear who is in the committee and what approach they intend to take since Somalia is adamant that Kenya must stop “interfering with its internal affairs.”

Oguna was speaking to journalists during a press conference on Tuesday.

“There is a lot of commonality between the two countries. Anything that is going to undermine that must be addressed,” Oguna said.

Kenya hosts more than 200,000 Somalis who fled decades old civil war that eventually gave birth to terrorism. Through the Kenya Defence Forces, Kenya is also involved in a peace campaign in Somalia.

Mogadishu was seemingly angered by a move by Kenya to host Somaliland President Muse Bihi and even holding bilateral talks at State House in Nairobi.

State House, in a statement, said President Uhuru Kenyatta and Bihi had discussed “a number of subjects of mutual interest between Kenya and Somaliland.”

They are set to meet on Tuesday for a follow up discussion according to State House spokesperson Kanze Dena.

Bihi is on a three day visit to Kenya.

Mogadishu and the Capital of Somaliland Hargeisa on Monday had engaged in a war of words on Twitter.

Mogadishu accused Somaliland of undermining its integrity but in return, Hargeisa dismissed it.

“The irrelevant statement from the failed administration of Somalia, shows nothing but only failure and irresponsibility. The Republic of Kenya are two independent countries which has the rightful decision to strengthen their mutual relationship,” reads a tweet by Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This is the second visit by a Somaliland leader following a similar one by President Kahin Riyale in 2006.

Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “Somaliland is an important partner in the Horn of Africa region in the fight against terrorism and particularly Al-Shabaab.”