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Somalia and Kenya agree to normalize relations

Storyline:National News

Somalia and Kenya have agreed to normalise their diplomatic relations after nearly two months of diplomatic tensions over a maritime border dispute.

Foreign Ministers of both countries expressed “a strong desire to normalise relations,” with an agreement to allow their respective ambassadors return to their diplomatic postings in Nairobi and Mogadishu following a meeting in Nairobi on Wednesday.

Last month, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia mediated talks between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Somalia’s Mohammed Abdullahi Farmajo where both of the leaders have agreed to work towards peace and to take measures in addressing particular issues that escalated the tensions.

On February 17, the Kenyan government expelled Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya Mohamud Ahmed Nur alias Tarzan and recalled its envoy Lucas Tumbo to Mogadishu for consultations.

The quarrel over the oil blocks has strained otherwise close ties between the two countries. Kenya hosts the largest population of Somali refugees and has troops serving in the Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which is helping the government to battle against the Al Qaeda-linked armed group, Al Shabab.

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