Changsha, China (Dawan Africa) – Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Abdisalam Omer Dhaay, met with his Kenyan counterpart, Musalia Mudavadi, this week on the sidelines of the FOCAC Coordination Meeting in Changsha, China. The meeting was described as “productive,” with both sides pledging to strengthen bilateral ties and reaffirming their commitment to Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The diplomatic engagement comes amid efforts to ease a growing rift between the two neighboring countries, triggered by a controversial visit to Nairobi in May by the President of Somaliland, a self-declared independent region of Somalia. During his visit, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) met with Kenyan President William Ruto and oversaw the official opening of a representative office in the Kenyan capital. A May 18 celebration of Somaliland’s so-called independence at Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) further inflamed tensions.
Mogadishu condemned the visit and events as direct affronts to Somalia’s sovereignty and unity, which it considers non-negotiable.
“The Minister strongly reaffirmed that respect for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity remains the foundation for any bilateral cooperation,” said a statement from the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Tensions were further strained by Kenya’s recent hosting of Ahmed Madobe, the president of Jubaland, a regional leader whose relationship with Somalia’s federal government has deteriorated and who is no longer seen as having federal backing.
Despite these flashpoints, Kenya’s Foreign Minister Mudavadi sought to dial down the rhetoric, reiterating Kenya’s support for Somalia’s unity and emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and good neighborliness.
As a concrete step forward, both ministers agreed to expedite the long-delayed meeting of the Somalia–Kenya Joint Cooperation Commission (JCC), with the goal of finalizing previously stalled agreements and expanding collaboration in areas such as trade, education, infrastructure, and security.
Diplomatic observers see the meeting and the shift in tone as a significant step toward defusing tensions and re-centering bilateral relations on a path of pragmatic cooperation.
