Kenya to reopen embassy in Mogadishu

By Andrew Wasike and Mohammed Dhaysane

NAIROBI, Kenya/MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - Kenya on Monday accepted Somalia’s request to reopen its diplomatic mission in the capital Mogadishu after the restoration of ties.

The move has been hailed as a key step made by the two countries which had cut off relations.

Kenya and Somalia are now on track to full restoration of severed ties.

In a statement, the Kenyan Foreign Ministry said: "Kenya will proceed to reopen its embassy in Mogadishu as soon as possible."

Kenya in the statement invited Ambassador of Somalia Mohamed Ahmed Nur Tarsan to come back to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, and resume his duties.

Responding to Kenya's Monday statement, the Somali government described the move as a "great benefit to the people of the two nations."

"A good move. Normalizing the relations between the two neighboring countries is a great benefit to the people of the two nations," Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu, the Somali government spokesman, said.