Kenyan leader meets with Somali prime minister to mend ties

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Somalia Prime Minister Mohammed Hussein Roble met Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday to mend ties that were severed between two nations.

The Presidency in Kenya announced that Kenyatta and Roble chaired bilateral talks at the State House in the southeastern coastal city of Mombasa.

“His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta has received visiting Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, His Excellency Hussein Mohamed Roble and his delegation at State House, Mombasa,” the presidency said.

“The two delegations discussed several strategic issues of shared interest between Kenya and Somalia, key among them the restoration of diplomatic relations between Nairobi and Mogadishu,” it added.

Somalia announced in December 2020 that it was cutting diplomatic ties with its southwestern neighbor, accusing Kenya of violating Somali sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Relations have been marred by increasing tensions stemming from security and maritime border disputes.