Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta hosts Guinea Bissau, Somalia presidents

Daisy I. Posted On 2022-07-15

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta is hosting two visiting presidents on diverse agenda.

As he received the Guinea Bissau leader Umaro Sissoco Embalo at State House on Friday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), his first official visit to Kenya since he was elected in May.

Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo (left) was received by Kenya’s Foreign Affairs secretary Rachel Omamo on July 14, 2022. PHOTO | MFA

According to the State House, President Embalo, the current chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), will hold “bilateral talks” on several issues with his host President Kenyatta, whose chairmanship of the East African Community (EAC) bloc ends in July.

The details of the talks have not been divulged.

Mohamud’s visit

Meanwhile, President Mohamud’s visit will also tackle several issues between the two countries. During his first term in the presidency, Mr Mohamud sued Kenya at the International Court of Justice in 2014. That case was determined last year, largely in favour of Somalia. Kenya had said it would not obey the verdict.

The relations between the two countries have thawed since his return to power, and diplomatic channels have reactivated. It is expected that the maritime verdict will form part of the talks, given that its implementation will fall on whoever replaces President Kenyatta after the August 9 Kenya elections.

Read: Uhuru in Somalia for Mohamud’s inauguration

Kenya and Somalia also suggested last month they would resume the multimillion shilling miraa (khat) trade, which Mohamud, incidentally, banned in his first term.

The Somali leader was received at the JKIA by Kenya’s Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya, who announced last month that Somalia had lifted the miraa ban pending policy clarifications. Mr Munya, while serving as Governor of Meru County – where miraa is grown, had once run into trouble with Mohamud’s government after he tried to seek markets for miraa in Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia.

Read: Talks clear way for restart of Kenya-Somalia trade