Somalia cuts ties with Kenya as Bihi-Kenyatta talks enter day two

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU:   Somalia has announced an end to diplomatic ties with its neighbour Kenya is in yet another move by Mogadishu to hit back at Nairobi over what it terms as ‘blatant interference’ of its sovereignty.

The Federal Government announced Monday evening in a live broadcast that relations with Kenya will now be frozen adding all diplomats from the neighbouring country should leave within seven days.

“The Federal Government of Somalia has taken this decision in response to the repeated political abuses and blatant interference by the Kenyan government in our country’s sovereignty,” the minister for information Osman Dubbe said on national television.

The move comes in the wake of a visit by Somaliland president Muse Bihi to Nairobi where he held talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta. State House said the two leaders engaged on matters of ‘mutual interest’ adding the talks will continue today.

The two countries have been on perpetual diplomatic offensives in the last four years with the recent one coming up following the expulsion of the Kenyan ambassador to Somalia late November.

Mogadishu will be watching keenly the outcome of the Kenyatta-Bihi talks which are expected to wrap up today with a joint statement.