Kenya made its clearest hint of engaging in the process of recognizing Somaliland with Foreign Affairs cabinet secretary Monica Juma stating the country will respect the Africa borders as created by the colonial governments.
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In an interview with the BBC Somali, Juma said Kenya will engage Somaliland in the same way it engaged South Sudan during its clamor for self-determination.
Somaliland, a former British protectorate remains unrecognized international despite its borders clearly carved out from Somali which was colonized by Italy.
“We will respect the African borders as carved out by the colonial government,” CS Monica Juma said in the interview.
“Kenya will engage with Somaliland, in the same manner, we engaged South Sudan during their quest for independence from the larger Sudan and push for international recognition,” she added.
@ForeignOfficeKE PS @AmbMKamau this afternoon held talks with Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Yasin Hagi Mohamed. The two discussed issues of mutual interest between the two countries and ways of strengthening cooperation. pic.twitter.com/wS5INZGpAI
— ForeignAffairsKenya (@ForeignOfficeKE) June 27, 2019
Her sentiments were a clear indication Kenya was ready to recognize Somaliland should the Africa Union do so.
Kenya has had close ties with Somaliland despite not having a consul in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland.
Last month, minister Juma appointed career diplomat Phillip Mundia Githiora to establish a mission in the Somaliland capital.
Only Ethiopia and Djibouti are the Africa nations with diplomatic missions in Hargeisa.
Somaliland Foreign Affairs and International cooperation minister Dr. Yassin Hagi has been in Nairobi over the last week and held meetings with Kenyan officials to push for the Somaliland agenda,
Hagi met with the Permanent Secretary of Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Peter Macharia where they discussed Somaliland-Kenya cooperation and collaborations on matters such as trade that will mutually benefit both countries.
Somaliland envoy to Kenya ambassador Bashe Omar meanwhile welcomed minister Juma’s remarks saying his country was ready to work with Kenya and other friendly states in Africa and beyond in trade, infrastructure and security especially in the horn of Africa.
