Kenya has reiterated its recognition of Somalia’s territorial integrity and political unity, including the semi-autonomous regions of Jubaland and Somaliland, under the Federal Government based in Mogadishu.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs affirmed Nairobi’s respect for Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity, and political independence, clearly stating that it recognizes Mogadishu as the sole legitimate authority over all Somali territories.
The move comes amid ongoing efforts to manage diplomatic sensitivities and avoid reigniting historical tensions stemming from previous missteps in Kenya-Somalia relations.
However, Kenya clarified that it will continue to engage with sub-national administrations in Jubaland and Somaliland, albeit in consultation with Somalia’s federal government.
“To advance the partnership, Kenya will maintain contact and relations with sub-national governments in Jubaland and Somaliland, and in consultation with the Federal Government of Somalia to establish contact and diplomatic presence as may be agreed from time to time,” the ministry stated.
The goal, according to the ministry, is to support mutual security cooperation and commercial interests, in line with principles of mutual respect and good neighbourliness.
Kenya’s diplomatic engagements with Somaliland have, in the past, led to friction with Mogadishu.
One such incident occurred in December 2023 when Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei publicly criticised Senate Speaker Amason Kingi for announcing a meeting with the “Somaliland Ambassador to Kenya.”
Sing’oei reminded Parliament that foreign policy is exclusively handled by the national government. He noted that Somaliland only operates a liaison office in Nairobi for commercial purposes and not an embassy. Kenya, he said, aligns its stance with the African Union, which recognizes the Federal Republic of Somalia as the sole sovereign entity.
Tensions between the two countries have also flared over travel disputes. In 2019, three Somali officials — including a deputy minister and two senators — were denied entry at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for lacking valid visas, despite holding diplomatic passports. This happened shortly after both governments had agreed to normalize relations following a bitter maritime boundary dispute in the Indian Ocean.
At the time, then-Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma emphasized Kenya’s visa policy applied to all foreigners, regardless of status.
“You all know that all of us travel with visas. So if you really don’t have a visa it would be very difficult to enter a country,” she said.
The maritime row escalated into a full-blown diplomatic crisis in 2019 after Somalia offered oil exploration blocks in the disputed 62,000 square-mile area. Both countries withdrew their ambassadors.
It took Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s intervention to bring then-Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo to the table, leading to a temporary easing of tensions.
