Somalia defends relationship with Djibouti

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Federal Government of Somalia has cleared doubts that her relationship with Djibouti may have severed, following a series of incidents involving Mogadishu and Djibouti, particularly Kenya's strained relationship with the Horn of Africa nation.

In February, a committee from Djibouti dispatched by IGAD exonerated Kenya from alleged interference with Somalia's domestic affairs, in what is perceived as the genesis of the cold relationship between Mogadishu and Djibouti, which were once blossom friends.

Djibouti vindicated Kenya from alleged interference in Gedo, further defending the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] which was accused of failing to protect civilians in sections of the Gedo region of Somalia within Jubaland state, which has close ties with Nairobi.

Foreign Affairs Minister Abdirizak Mohamed said Somalia still maintains good relations with Djibouti but said it had registered its protests over the February report. The protest, he noted, was "just normal" and in accordance with international laws.

“For Djibouti, we are two brotherly countries and we are all Somalis, so there is nothing wrong with our diplomatic relations,” said Mohamed. "Somalia attended the inauguration of President Ismail Omar Guelleh.”

Last month, Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble attended the inauguration of Omar Ismail Guelleh in Djibouti, a function that was snubbed by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. However, President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya attended and he's said to have invited Roble to Kenya.

Somalia had in February accused Djibouti of colluding with Kenya in writing the IGAD report which cleared Kenya of any wrongdoing. Besides the Gedo crisis, Somalia and Kenya are embroiled in the Indian Ocean maritime border dispute.

Djibouti President Omar Guelleh, the current chair of IGAD appointed the team which conducted the fact-finding mission and subsequently did the report. The report was approved by the African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] which is in charge of security in Somalia.

Sources hinted to Garowe Online that Roble may have cut plans to visit Kenya over a strained relationship and could have acted in compliance with orders from Villa Somalia. Kenya suspended flights to Somalia recently, only allowing humanitarian and medivac flights, which under intense scrutiny.

GAROWE ONLINE