Kenya's diplomatic relations with Somali is at all an time high, with the the Eastern neighbour reopening its embassy in the country after 26 years.
The current premises located along lower Kabete road were bought by the Somalia Government in 1972 and have never been used since 1994 when Somalia descended into turmoil.
"Standing here, looking at this gleaming building, I don't see just a fresh office block. I see a symbol of Somalia rising to from ashes back to greatness, like the proverbial Phoenix," Foreign Affairs CAS Hon Ababu Namwamba stated during the colorful ceremony.
“Our common endeavour for durable peace, viable stability and sustainable development for both our peoples and region continue to underpin the necessity for our mutual cooperation," he added.
He went on to assure the Somali Government of Kenya's commitment to further enhance bilateral relations between the two countries through trade and people to people interactions, and also to champion the issues of Somalia and those of the continent on the global arena during her tenure as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council 2021/22.
Somalia's new found cordial ties with her neighbour comes just 7 days after a Kenyan delegation landed in Mogadishu, Somalia on a mission to explore investment opportunities and boost bilateral ties between the two countries.
Led by the Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Ambassador Macharia Kamau , the team was received by Somalia envoy Mohamed Ali Nur.
“Great opportunities for bilateral and regional cooperation and trade exist between Kenya and Somalia. As Somalia makes significant progress in business, economic and social development. Security and other historical challenges, though real, must not be allowed to stand in our way," the Ambassador stated at the time
The visit by the Kenyan officials was seen as an indication that peace efforts by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Somali counterpart Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo were finally bearing fruit.
Somalia has experienced almost constant conflict since the collapse of its central government in 1991.
At the start of the year, Kenya summoned its Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Somalia, Ambassador Lt. General (Rtd) Lucas Tumbo.
He was summoned back to Nairobi for urgent consultations. This was as a consequence for a most regretful move by the Government of Somalia to auction off oil and gas blocks in Kenya’s maritime territorial area that borders Somalia.
By officially reopening its embassy, the Somali government vowed its commitment to boosting cross-country trade, as well as aid in combating and rehabilitating the outlawed groups.
In March 2020, the nations agreed to appoint joint committees to resolve border tensions.
The two leaders discussed a range of bilateral issues, underlining the significance of their joint cooperation in strengthening security along the borders and across the region.
