Somalia: Farmajo set to visit Nairobi over Gedo chaos amid US pressure

MOGADISHU, Somalia - As part of a diplomatic approach to the current stalemate in Gedo, near the Kenya-Somalia border, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has an "accepted" invitation to visit Nairobi.

Both Kenya and Somalia have been at loggerheads in recent weeks overbuilding tensions along the border, which escalated to a fierce gunfight between Somali National Army [SNA] and regional Jubaland troops.

The Somalia leader is accused of "secret plot" to establish a parallel administration in Gedo, a move meant to undermine regional states especially Jubaland, much to the antagonism of Kanya.

But to quell possible diplomatic spat between the two nations, Farmajo held a phone call conversation with his counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta, which triggered a courtesy visit to Villa Somalia on Sunday by a powerful delegation from Nairobi.

Powerful Interior Minister Dr. Fred Matiang'i led the delegation. He was accompanied by Vice Chief of Defense Forces Lt. Gen Robert Kibochi, Kenya ambassador to Somalia Maj. Gen [Rtd] Lucas Tumbo and Mr. Moffat Kingi, officials said.

With Kanya keen to push for peace processes in Somalia, Dr. Matiang'i said, "We had constructive deliberations and consolidated our foundation for addressing our cross-border issues".

Both countries have been under pressure from the US, which also funds SNA, to call for a ceasefire in Gedo. Kenya is a close ally of Jubaland, which explains the hospitality JSF is receiving in the border town of Mandera.

The US-engineered the phone call between the two leaders last week. Ethiopian PM Ahmed Abiy is said to have requested Farmajo to reach out to Uhuru's following pressure from the US, sources said.

And after the meeting at Villa Somalia, the Kenyan delegation extended an invitation to Nairobi for President Farmajo, who is said to have "gladly" accepted.

"He has accepted official invitation to visit Kenya for talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta," a source in Villa Somalia said. "Plans are underway to honor the cordial invitation."

While Somalia accused Kenya of "interference of our domestic affairs" and even threatened to "sue" Kenya at UNSC, Uhuru fired back last week saying "we cannot allow violation of our sovereign integrity" by SNA troops.

The trip according to sources could be executed as early as next week. The planned meeting could unlock the impasse, which has left thousands displaced from Gedo, analysts say.

"Somalia can become an assertive, proud nation but without lapsing into disastrous irredentism. Kenya can look at Somalia as a strategically not existential enemy," Rashid Abdi, a security analyst said.

Prof. Hussein Warsame, while noting the fluid situation at Balad-Hawo, added "The East African family is dysfunctional. But it is still a family. Even little goodwill could help unity."

Both the US and Kenya have been calling for the withdrawal of SNA troops from the Gedo region, terming the deployment as "unnecessary" and "irresponsible" in separate statements last week.

On Sunday, a group of international partners also expressed "grave concerns" at the military build-up in Gedo and called for all actors to "exercise restraint, reduce the presence of security forces in Gedo, and avoid any actions that could spark violence."

There are over 700 SNA troops in the region who have been accused of "illegal take over". The Somalia partners believe that the escalating tensions between the federal government and member states could give room for Al-Shabaab resurgence.

Businesses still remain closed both in Balad-Hawo and the neighboring Mandera, with schools also closing down within the vicinity due to tensions, reports indicate.

GAROWE ONLINE