Somalia: President Farmajo to travel to Kenya ahead of IGAD summit

MOGADISHU, Somalia- The President of Somali Federal government, Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed Farmajo is set to travel to neighboring Kenya ahead of a special summit on the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Thursday, Garowe Online reports.

The summit will be attended by head of African states and will hold talks on worsening drought conditions, security and issues concerning the East African region.

During the summit, Somali President is expected to highlight about the persistent drought crisis that hit the country and urge the leaders to push efforts to assist his government to avert looming famine situation.

Additionally, sources indicated that President Farmajo will discuss with the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to postpone Kenyan government's plan to close down Dadab camp, the largest refugee camp housing thousands of Somali refugees. The two leaders are likely also to discuss bilateral relations, trade cooperation and security. 

President Farmajo’s visit comes following recent unannounced trip by President Kenyatta to southern town Dobly, where he visited Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) serving with the African Union forces in Somalia, however, the visit was reported to cause stir.  

This is the second foreign trip by President Farmajo since his election back in early February. After his inauguration, Farmajo traveled to Saudi Arabia and held meeting with the Saudi King Salman Bin Saud in Riyadh.

GAROWEONLINE