Kenya names two ambassadors to Somalia, sparking controversy and confusion. Kenyan President William Ruto yesterday nominated 31 ambassadors and high commissioners to represent Kenya abroad. The nomination to Somalia has sparked confusion and controversy among the Somali public, as it includes two nominees – one for Mogadishu and another one for Hargeisa.
Nairobi, KENYA.
The naming of two ambassadors and high commissioners (the document does not specify who is who) to Somalia has prompted some to wonder if Somalia receives treatment as a sovereign country. The appointed officials are Kiringo Kubai for the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Mogadishu and Abdi Weli Muhamad Hussein for the Kenya Liaison Office in Hargeisa, the capital of the breakaway state of Somaliland. The nominations are pending parliamentary vetting before President Ruto’s final approval.
The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) will have to address public concerns regarding the protection of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. There cannot be two ambassadors or high commissioners in one country, which the list (photographed above) confusingly implies. Kenya’s only embassy is in Mogadishu, so the ambassador sits there. Regarding the Liaison Office in Hargeisa, it is formally headed by the Head of the Liaison Office, not an ambassador or high commissioner. Therefore, the unclear appointment of an ambassador or high commissioner could lead to accusations that Kenya is meddling in Somalia’s internal affairs and recognizes Somaliland as an independent nation.
“No plans to set up embassy in Hargeisa”
It remains unclear whether this was an act of deliberate provocation towards Somalia and its unity or just an unintentional mishap and diplomatic faux pas. The same statement says “Hargeisa, Somalia” – indicating that Kenya considers Hargeisa to be part of Somalia, not the separatist Somaliland. Nonetheless, Somaliland’s politicians were quick to exploit the issue.
Several nations and national entities maintain or previously had diplomatic missions or representative offices in Somaliland. Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Turkey used to operate General Consulates in Hargeisa. United Kingdom, Denmark, Kenya have had Liaison Offices, and Republic of China (Taiwan), Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates have had Representative Offices.
As for Kenya, the country’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua clarified earlier this year that Kenya is not planning to set up an embassy in Hargeisa. “I wish to clarify that Kenya does not have any plans to set up an embassy in Hargeisa, as has been erroneously reported in some established and social media.”
What’s next?
The announcement sparked controversy, as the issue of Somaliland’s status is a sensitive and complex matter. While Somaliland declared itself independent from Somalia in 1991, the international community has not recognized its sovereignty.
The Somali government should provide clarity on how it intends to address this development and safeguard Somalia’s unity. Meanwhile, discussions and debates surrounding Kenya’s decision to appoint ambassadors to both Mogadishu and Hargeisa are likely to continue, with implications for diplomatic relations and regional politics.
Read also: Somaliland has ‘no plans for dialogue to discuss unity with Somalia’
