Somalia PM holds high-level talks with Kenya's deputy president in Nairobi

1.    At the invitation of H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Hamza Abdi Barre, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia made an Official visit to Kenya from 6th to 8th May 2024.

2.    H.E. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and H.E. Hamza Abdi Barre held high-level talks in Nairobi on 7th May 2024. The discussions focused on Bilateral, Regional, and International issues of mutual interest and concern. These discussions were held in a friendly atmosphere, during which, the two leaders recalled the deep historical bonds of friendship between the two countries over many years. 

3.    H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, Deputy President was accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries in charge of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Defence; EAC, Agriculture, Investment, Trade and Industry, Internal security, Roads and Transport, Labour, and Education.

4.    H.E. Hamza Abdi Barre was accompanied by Ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs and international cooperation, Defence, Internal Security, Transport and Civil Aviation, Education, as well as Commerce and Industry.

5. The official Visit was preceded by the 3rd session of the Kenya Somalia Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC), held from 3rd to 6th May 2024.

The Ministerial delegations were led by H.E. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya and H.E Ahmed Moalin Fiqi Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

6.    In their statements during the bilateral talks, the two leaders hailed the warm, fraternal and cordial relations that exist between the two countries and emphasised the need to enhance and deepen their bilateral cooperation.

7.    H.E. Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre expressed his heartfelt condolences for the tragic loss of lives and extensive destruction of infrastructure caused by the recent floods in Kenya.

He reiterated Somalia's solidarity with the affected communities during this difficult time.

8.    The two leaders shared a moment of solidarity, acknowledging the challenges posed by natural disasters and reaffirming their commitment to support each other in times of crisis.

9.    Subsequently, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues covering the various sectors of Kenya-Somalia bilateral cooperation. These sectors included Trade, Defence, Internal Security, Immigration, Economy, Education, Transport and Infrastructure, and Political Affairs, among others.

10.  The Leaders underscored the importance of enhancing partnerships in the international stage and the need for continued consultations to build partnerships in multi-lateral fora to ensure the agenda of the Global South is prioritised.

11.  The two leaders acknowledged that the East African Community integration process expanded with Somalia’s admission. It marks a new chapter to further improve regional integration efforts, as well as providing a new platform for trade cooperation between the two countries.

12.  The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral relations in Trade and Investment. They recognised the opportunity for both States to complement each other’s resources, goods, services and personnel resulting in a cohesive bilateral trade system.

13.  Recognising the great opportunities in trade, Kenya and Somalia resolved to further work towards removing barriers to facilitate the movement of people and goods, promote investment and open up new markets of mutual interest to achieve greater and sustainable participation in trade for both States.

14.  They also agreed to foster and enhance the trade of fish and fishery products between Somalia and Kenya. This is aimed at achieving mutual economic benefits and strengthening cooperation in the Blue Economy.

15.  On Security, the two leaders commended the ongoing collaboration and committed to fight against terrorism and other transnational crimes. They requested relevant security agencies to strengthen their cooperation in border security, capacity building for police, and other related areas.

16.  Both leaders underscored the significance of the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) in advancing mutual interests and strengthening the bilateral relations between the Republic of Kenya and the Federal Republic of Somalia.