Thursday November 14, 2019
NAIROBI (HOL) - Somalia and Kenya Thursday agreed to restore diplomatic relations including reinstating direct flights to Nairobi and facilitating visa upon arrival.
Speaking in a joint conference in Nairobi, President Kenyatta said he had agreed with his Somalia counterpart Mohamed Farmaajo to end the Wajir stop over for flights from Mogadishu to allow for direct access to Nairobi.
Kenyatta said within a week, the respective aviation authorities will work to end the stop overs
“We have agreed within a week, the necessary authorities will should put in place that which is necessary to ensure we now have direct flights from Mogadishu to Nairobi,” Kenyatta said.
Noting the two countries had agreed to normalize relations, the Kenyan leader said Somalis will now obtain visas at the airport upon arrival.
“We have agreed to bring normality to our relations. We must do everything we can to ensure our people live happily and peacefully. With immediate effect, Somalis traveling will be able to obtain their visas when they arrival.
On his part, President Farmaajo thanked the Kenyan government for its contribution to AMISOM and hosting thousands of Somali refugees. Farmaajo noted the ICJ case will ‘not affect our relations.’
The two leaders however steered clear of the maritime case amid reports the two had struck a deal to handle the issue mutually including pulling out the case from the ICJ.