Kenya and Somalia agree to normalize relations

Kenya and Somalia have agreed to normalize diplomatic relations despite an ongoing maritime boundary case at the international court of justice.

The rapprochement will start with restoration of the issuance of travel visas on arrival for citizens of the two East African nations.

This follows a meeting between Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta and his Somalia counterpart Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on the sidelines of the just concluded International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) summit in Nairobi.

A statement issued by president Kenyatta’s office says the two leaders agreed to explore avenues of strengthening bilateral and diplomatic ties between Nairobi and Mogadishu for the benefit of the citizens of the two nations.

Relations between the two countries have been strained after Somalia took its dispute with Kenya over their sea border to the international court of justice.