MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia expelled Kenyan ambassador on Sunday over “interference” in Somalia’s internal affairs and summoned back his Somali counterpart in Nairobi.
Mogadishu described the move as a response to Kenya’s interfere in Somalia’s internal affairs and efforts to coerce Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe into reneging the terms of a previous agreement signed between Somali federal and regional states.
It comes hours after Jubaland president Ahmed Madobe launched a blistering attack on the federal government and said it was responsible for delay in elections after refusing to pull out troops stationed in Gedo region, whose presence had earlier triggered armed clashes.
Kenya has not immediately commented on the accusations but it is believed to be a key supporter of opposition presidential candidates running against Somalia’s incumbent president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo in the upcoming elections.
Main opposition leader Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and presidents of Puntland and Jubaland had met in Nairobi two weeks ago as part of efforts aimed to unify stance on the federal government’s handling of the electoral process, which critics warn could lead to election fraud.
Analysts say the move reflects a new low in an already tense relationship between Nairobi and Mogadishu over Kenya’s support for Jubaland president Ahmed Madobe.
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