Kenya–Somalia relations

Kenya–Somalia relations

Kenya	Somalia

Kenya–Somalia relations (Somali: Xiriirka Kiinya-Soomaaliya) (Swahili: Ushirika wa Kenya-Somalia) are bilateral relations between Kenya and Somalia.

Diplomatic missions[]

The Federal Government of Somalia maintains an embassy in Nairobi. The diplomatic mission is led by Ambassador Jamal Mohamed Hassan.^[1]

Somali–Kenyan conflict[]

Jubaland[]

On June 26, 1960, four days before granting British Somaliland independence, the British government declared that all Somali-inhabited areas of East Africa should be unified in one administrative region. However, after the dissolution of the former British colonies in the region, Britain granted administration of the Northern Frontier District to Kenyan nationalists despite an informal plebiscite demonstrating the overwhelming desire of the region's population to join the newly formed Somali Republic.^[2]

On the eve of Kenyan independence in August 1963, British officials belatedly realized that the new Kenyan administration was not willing to give up the Somali-inhabited areas it had just been granted administration of. Led by the (NPPPP), Somalis in the NFD vigorously sought union with their kin in the Somali Republic to the north.^[3] In response, the Kenyan government enacted a number of repressive measures designed to frustrate their efforts in what came to be known as the Shifta War.^[4] Although the conflict ended in a cease-fire, Somalis in the region still identify and maintain close ties with their kin in Somalia, and see themselves as one people.^[5]

Somalis in Kenya have historically inhabited the Northern Frontier District (NFD), which was later renamed the North Eastern Province. The NFD came into being in 1925, when it was carved out of the Jubaland region in present-day southern Somalia.^[6] At the time under British colonial administration, the northern half of Jubaland was ceded to Italy as a reward for the Italians' support of the Allies during World War I.^[7] Britain retained control of the southern half of the territory, which was later called the Northern Frontier District.^[6] From the 2010s onwards, during the administration of Ahmed Madobe, ties between Kenya and Jubaland have deepened, particularly in the form of economic and military cooperation.^[8]

Operation Linda Nchi[]

In October 2011, a coordinated operation between the Somali military and the Kenyan military, Operation Linda Nchi, began against the Al-Shabaab group of insurgents in southern Somalia.^[9][10] The mission was officially led by the Somali army, with the Kenyan forces providing a support role.^[10] In early June 2012, Kenyan troops were formally integrated into AMISOM.^[11] By September 2012, the Somali National Army and allied Kenyan African Union forces and Raskamboni militia had managed to capture Al-Shabaab's last major stronghold, the southern port of Kismayo, during the Battle of Kismayo.^[12]

Refugee Camps[]

In 2013, UNHCR, the governments of Kenya and Somalia signed a tripartite agreement facilitating the repatriation of Somali refugees at the Dadaab camp. In March 2021 the Kenyan government issued an ultimatum to UNHCR to close Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps, which house over 400,000 mostly Somali refugees. Amid deteriorating relationship with the Somali government they have said there is no room for further negotiations, the Somali refugees should leave the camps with immediate effect and that they will be escorted to the Somali border if the camps are not closed. This could result in a humanitarian catastrophe particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Somali government has not issued any statement over the impending closures. ^[13][14]

In March 2021 the Kenyan government issued an ultimatum to UNHCR to close Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps, which house over 400,000 mostly Somali refugees. Amid deteriorating relationship with the Somali government they have said there is no room for further negotiations, the Somali refugees should leave the camps with immediate effect and that they will be escorted to the Somali border if the camps are not closed. This could result in a humanitarian catastrophe particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Somali government has not issued any statement over the impending closures. ^[15][16]

Early in the month UNHCR had appealed for urgent funding for refugees in East Africa, reporting that food rations for the refugees in Kenya had already been cut by 40%. Funding has reached an all time low due to the global impact of COVID-19. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, UNHCR’s Regional Director said “Protection concerns are growing. Food ration or cash cuts are resulting in negative coping strategies to meet their basic food needs – such as skipping or reducing meals, taking loans with high interest, selling assets, child labour, and increased domestic violence.” ^[17]

Maritime Boundary Dispute[]

In August 2014, the Federal Government of Somalia formally asked the International Court of Justice "to determine, on the basis of international law, the complete course of the single maritime boundary dividing all the maritime areas appertaining to Somalia and to Kenya in the Indian Ocean."^[18]

In February 2019, Kenya summoned its ambassador to Somalia back home and asked his Somalia counterpart to return to Mogadishu for consultation with his government after the Somali government's decision to auction oil and gas exploration blocks at the center of the two countries' maritime territorial dispute in the Indian Ocean.^[19] In July 2019, Somalia lodged a protest to the Kenyan government for referring to the self-proclaimed Somaliland as a country.^[20]

In February 2021, the chairman of the Pan African Forum sought United Nations intervention over the Kenya-Somalia maritime case at the International Court of Justice. In his letter to António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, he said that since Mohamed took over power tensions in the region had accelerated, “Farmajo seems to be in a predicament due to the undue pressure by external forces, namely Turkey, UAE and Qatar, Norway and to some extent France”.^[21] The accused President Mohamed, and Abdirahman Beyle of attempting to auction off Somalia's oil blocks, despite the fact that laws governing natural resources and revenue sharing had not been agreed upon by the Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States.

Kenya declined to attend the ICJ hearing on the case in March 2021, saying in a statement that the country felt betrayed by the Somali government which had 'incited hostility against Kenya, and actively contributed to the climate that encourages attacks against Kenyan civilians and against Kenyan forces in Somalia' despite the support Kenya had given Somalia in terms of humanitarian aid and military, financial and diplomatic support.^[22][23][24]

Diplomatic row with President Mohamed[]

In December 2020 Mohamed accused Kenya of interference in Somalia's internal affairs in a diplomatic row which resulted in Somalia cutting diplomatic ties with neighbouring Kenya, giving Kenyan diplomats seven days to leave Mogadishu. The Kenyan government denied the allegations claiming that the Somali government is ungrateful to Kenya for the support her country has provided to Somali refugees and its efforts to bring peace to Somalia'.^[25][26] In May 2021, relations between the two countries were restored, with mediation from Qatar.^[27]

See also[]

• Somali–Kenyan conflict

References[]