Kenyan minister meets Somali President to ease tensions

Kenya’s Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i met with Somalia’s President, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed on Sunday, in a bid to ease escalating tensions over their shared border. 

Matiang’i led a delegation of officials to Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, at the behest of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The meeting comes just days after the two presidents spoke over the phone, agreeing to work together to improve security at the border, and to improve trade and diplomatic relations.

Tensions have been high since Somali forces clashed with those from Jubaland, a semi-autonomous state that forms part of Somalia, on Kenyan soil.

President Kenyatta labelled the incident a “flagrant breach” by Somalia.

Somalia had previously accused Kenya of meddling in its internal affairs and encroaching on its border, allegations Kenya called “baseless and invalid”.

International efforts have sought to ease tensions between the two nations.

Kenya’s interior ministry issued a joint statement with the regional body Igad, the US, UK, and the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amison), which “urgently called upon all actors to exercise restraint”.

Over the weekend Matiang’i tweeted a picture of himself with the Somali President, writing about “Kenya’s support for Somalia’s transition to lasting peace”.

“We had constructive deliberations and consolidated our foundation for addressing our cross-border issues”, he said.

Picture: Twitter/Dr. Fred Matiang’i