Somalia has expelled the Kenyan Ambassador to Mogadishu, Retired Major General Lucas Tambo and has recalled its own diplomat from Nairobi over alleged interference in their upcoming elections.
The announcement, on Sunday, November 29, was made by the Somali government which maintained that Kenya was persistently meddling in their affairs.
Somalia Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Amb. Mohamed Ali-Nur Haji noted that this interference would potentially cause a hindrance to the political stability and security of the region.
"Somalia expresses its regret in the government of Kenya's overt and blatant interferences in the internal and political affairs of the Federal Republic of Somalia which has the potential to be a hindrance to the stability, security and development of the entire region," Nur Haji stated.
He stated that despite the desire to maintain friendly relations with neighbouring countries, Kenyan government's actions would not be further tolerated.
"The Federal Government of Somalia believes that the Kenyan Government actions are not in line with the internationally recognized diplomatic relations enjoyed by sovereign States,” he stated.
According to the ministry, the Kenyan government has been putting pressure on the president of Jubaland Ahmed Mohamed Islaam Madobe to renege on an earlier agreement that was agreed upon.
The deal had instituted that Mogadishu to call for delegates to pick parliamentarians who would later appoint the president.
This agreement ensued from the initial historic legislation by President Mohamed Abdulahi Farmajo which gave citizens of Somalia the right to vote in parliamentary elections.
This was however met with opposition from regional leaders who stated that registering individual voters would affect the political stability of the country taking into consideration recent security concerns.
They instead proposed in the new agreement that traditional elders, civil society leaders and regional authorities to pick representatives in Parliament who in turn pick the president.
Kenya and Somalia have been at fronts due to recent insecurities and issues causing a shaky relationship between the two governments.
The Kenyan government, in February 2019, had recalled Tambo from Mogadishu and ordered Somali Ambassador to Kenya Mohamoud Ahmed Nurto to leave the country over alleged auctioning of oil and gas blocks in disputed territorial waters of the Indian Ocean.
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