Kenyan and Somali leaders on Thursday reached an agreement on bilateral relations and will restore the issuance of travel visas on arrival to citizens of both nations.
President Uhuru Kenyatta who held talks with visiting Mohamed Farmajo of Somalia reaffirmed the invaluable relations that exist between Kenya and Somalia, Kenya’s presidency said in a joint statement issued in Nairobi.
“The restoration of the visa on arrival arrangement is aimed at enhancing free and unhindered movement of people and commerce between Kenya and Somalia,” it said.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the UN International Conference on Population Development (ICPD25) which ended in Nairobi on Thursday.
During the meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed the invaluable relations that exist between Kenya and Somalia and agreed to explore avenues of strengthening bilateral and diplomatic ties between Nairobi and Mogadishu for the benefit of the citizens of the two nations.
Farmajo expressed confidence the maritime boundary dispute between Somalia and Kenya currently before the International Court of Justice in The Hague will be resolved in a mutually acceptable manner.
He conveyed his gratitude to Kenyatta for the role Kenya continues to play in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and for the hospitality the continues to accord Somali refugees.
The relations between Kenya and Somalia deteriorated in February after the Somali authorities announced intent to auction offshore oil blocks off the port of Lamu to international oil exploration companies. Enditem
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