Possible Outcomes of President Bihi’s Meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta

The President of the Republic of Somaliland H.E. Muse Bihi Abdi met with the Kenyan President Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta behind closed doors for at least two hours. According to sources, the two Presidents rejoined their teams and continued discussions of areas of cooperation. President Muse Bihi Abdi has arrived in Nairobi Sunday on a three-day official visit

Sources add that areas of cooperation between Somaliland and Kenya will be further hashed out in a meeting tomorrow and will possibly include a Kenyan Representative Office in Somaliland, a direct flight of Kenyan Airways to Hargeisa, visa on arrival for government officials on Somaliland passport, security cooperation, and exchange of information. Kenya currently maintains a liaison office in Somaliland.

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The President’s delegation is scheduled to meet with the leader of the opposition and former Prime Minister Mr. Raila Odinga this evening. Mr. Odinga has spoken favorably regarding Somaliland’s case for recognition.

Although it did not refer to the invitation of Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign has sent a tweet stating that it had sued Kenya in IGAD and has since deleted it to reworded the tweet.

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In response to the Federal Government of #Somalia letter against #Kenya, which was submitted to H.E. Abdalla Hamdok, PM of the Republic of #Sudan & the Chair of the #IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the IGAD will hold a summit in #Djibouti on Dec 20 on this matter.

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇸🇴 (@MofaSomalia) December 13, 2020

It is unclear if the Somali Federal government will completely sever its frayed diplomatic ties with Kenya due to its overtures to Somaliland. Although it did not have diplomatic ties with Guinea Conakry, Somalia has cut diplomatic ties with the West African nation following an official visit from President Bihi in June 2019.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s invitation to President Bihi comes at a low point for Somalia and Kenya’s bilateral ties where the two countries have withdrawn their respective ambassadors following an accusation by Somalia that Kenya has meddled in its internal affairs despite Kenya having a large contingent of its armed formed deployed in Somalia as part of AMISOM. Regional analysts believe that the Somali President Mohamed Abdillahi Farmajo is using the conflict with Kenya for his reelection bid.