This archive report was first published on 15 November 2019.
Kenya and Somalia have finally put their differences aside and agreed to normalize their bilateral relations. The agreement was reached on November 14, 2019, during a meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo in Nairobi.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) summit in Nairobi. The summit, which took place from November 12 to 14, 2019, brought together world leaders to discuss population and development issues.
According to a tweet by State House, Kenya and Somalia have agreed to normalize their bilateral relations starting with the restoration of the issuance of travel visas on arrival for citizens of the two nations. The two leaders also agreed to establish direct flights between Mogadishu and Nairobi.
The agreement comes after a long-standing maritime dispute between the two countries. In 2014, Somalia sued Kenya at the International Court of Justice for undertaking unlawful operations at a disputed maritime territory. The dispute has been ongoing for several years, with both countries accusing each other of violating international law.
However, with the agreement reached on November 14, 2019, it seems that the two countries are willing to put their differences aside and work towards a peaceful resolution. The agreement is a significant step towards normalizing relations between the two countries and could have a positive impact on regional stability.
