Somali FM meet Kenya ambassador to discuss ways to enhance cooperation

The Minister of foreign affairs and International Cooperation, Ahmed Isse Awad have today received the Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to the Federal Republic of Somalia Lt. General (Rtd) Lucas Tumbo in Mogadishu.

The two leaders discussed enhancing bilateral relations and means of joint cooperation between the two friendly countries to emphasize the depth of the Somali-Kenyan relations in all fields, which dates back to the oldest ages.

In February this year, Somalia had a conference in London, where it presented data obtained by consultancy firm Spectrum Geo, and offered potential investors lucrative deals should they take up the bid by September.

Kenya protested the move, arguing that Mogadishu had auctioned oil in its territory.

PS Kamau announced he had summoned the Kenyan ambassador to Somalia back home “for consultations” and ordered Mohamed Ahmed Nur Tarsan the of Somali to Kenya to head back to Mogadishu.

Somalia, through Mr Awad, denied auctioning oil, vowing to wait for the ICJ decision, even though it did not deny offering the data to investors at the London conference.

Despite the case being in the ICJ, Kenyan diplomats have been putting pressure on Mogadishu to accept an out-of-court settlement which Nairobi sees as cheaper to implement.

As ICJ decisions are binding between state parties involved, it means a verdict in Somalia’s favour will see Kenya lose the oil blocks.

Kenya has started to have a close relation with Somaliland as it has opened a diplomatic mission in Hargeisa self-declared Somaliland’s capital to pressure the federal government of Somalia to discuss the maritime row out of court.

Goobjoog News