Kenyan FM receives new Somalia ambassador

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 8, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Kenyan Foreign Affairs cabinet secretary Amina Mohamed has received newly-appointed Somali ambassador Jamal Mohamed Hassan at her office on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

Hassan handed over letter of appointment to Amina, and discussed the relations between the two countries despite heated maritime boundary dispute.

The new Somali ambassador to Kenya will present President Uhurru Kenyatta his credentials in the coming days.

Hassan replaced Somalia’s long-serving envoy Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nur America who held the post for eight years.

He was among five ambassadors assigned to Kenya, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and United Nations Human rights council.

Kenyan Defence Force (KDF) crossed the border into Somalia in late 2011 to battle Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab militants following a series of kidnappings and killings in northeastern counties.

In mid-2014, Somalia’s Federal Government filed a lawsuit against Kenya at International Court of Justice (ICJ). Ever since, diplomatic ties have been remaining precarious.

Somali officials allegedly reached to the UN court after Kenya laid claim to 40,000 square miles of waters. 

GAROWE ONLINE