NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 15- Kenya has announced plans to open a consulate in Hargeisa, Somaliland by March 2021, hours after Mogadishu cut diplomatic ties with Nairobi.
Somaliland also committed to upgrade its liaison office in Nairobi within the same timeframe.
This was captured in a joint statement released on Newsrooms on Tuesday, following a second meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Somaliland counterpart Muse Bihi Abdi.
Further, Kenya Airways and other Kenyan airlines to commence direct flights between Nairobi and Hargeisa by end of March next year.
“Senior officials on a pre-determined list and travelling to Kenya on Somaliland travel documents to apply for e-visa and receive visa on arrival by end of March, 2021,” reads the statement.
Senior Officials from Kenya and Somaliland are also set to agree on details and timelines for enhancing technical cooperation, “including implementation of Exchange Programmes involving Students, Agricultural Officers, Doctors, Nurses and other professionals.”
Mogadishu has already shown its displeasure with the 3-day state visit which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said undermines Somalia sovereignty.
The Ministry said Somaliland being a semi-autonomous region, has no powers or the right to hold bilateral talks with Kenya.
“The irrelevant statement from the failed administration of Somalia, shows nothing but only failure and irresponsibility. The Republic of Somaliland and The Republic of Kenya are two independent countries which has the rightful decision to strengthen their mutual relationship,” reads a rejoinder by the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Somalia asked its diplomats to leave Kenya in 7 days in a statement issued on Tuesday morning.
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 Bihi and even holding bilateral talks at State House in Nairobi for 2 days.
The two countries are also engaged in a territorial dispute.
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