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Newly-appointed Somalia ambassador to Kenya Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle presents credentials to Ruto

The Somalia ambassador to Kenya Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle presents his credentials to President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi on December 7, 2023. (Photo: PCS)

By Dennis Tarus | Thursday, December 7, 2023

The new ambassador affirmed his commitment to building strong ties with Kenya for the mutual benefit of the two nations.

Kenya and Somalia relations are expected to improve after the newly-appointed Somalia ambassador to Kenya Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle presented his credentials to President William Ruto on Thursday.

The high-profile envoy and former presidential candidate was recently appointed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to steer the relations between the two countries.

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"Profound gratitude to President Hassan Sheikh for entrusting me with the role of Somalia's Ambassador to Kenya. I’m honoured and humbled to help further cement the powerful bonds that unite our two nations, focusing on a future of mutual growth and understanding," he said upon his appointment.

He replaces Mohamed Nur Tarzan, a former Mayor of Mogadishu who had been appointed by former Somalia president Mohamed Farmaajo in 2018.

Jabril has been involved in peace-building and reconciliation between the various clans in Somalia.

As a former head of the Centre for Research and Dialogue, he was a key figure during the Somali peace talks in the early 2000s in Eldoret and Mbagathi in Kenya.

Jabril was among 11 other ambassadors and high commissioners at State House, Nairobi who presented their credentials to President Ruto.

They include Ibra Hussain Khan (Pakistan), Mohammed bin Mutair Ammash Al-Shamlani Al-Enazi (Qatar), Bernard Yohana Kibesse (Tanzania), Nasra Salim Mohamed Al Hashmi (Oman), Jibril Ibrahim Abdulle (Somalia), Ali Gholampour (Iran) and Jenny Da Rin (Australia).

Others were non-resident ambassadors Barlybay Sadykov (Kazakhstan), Daniel Schear (Estonia), Ignacio de Cossio Perez de Mendoza (El Salvador), and Fidelia Graand-Galon (Suriname).

The Somalia ambassador to Kenya Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle presents his credentials to President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi on December 7, 2023. (Photo: PCS)

Strong ties

The diplomats affirmed their commitment to building strong ties with Kenya for the mutual benefit of respective nations.

The relations between Kenya and Somalia were further bolstered after the Horn of Africa nation joined the East African Community (EAC) last month.

During the ceremony in Arusha, Ruto highlighted the importance of the two countries coming together to overcome divisions that hinder the free flow of people, ideas, goods, services, and capital.

He highlighted the significance of breaking down needless borders, especially in Africa, to promote economic growth.

President William Ruto congratulating his Somalia counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for joining the East African Community. (Photo: PCS)

Ruto affirmed Kenya's commitment to collaborating with partners and countries globally to advance regional integration in the continent, aiming to improve market efficiency and boost trade and investments in Africa.

President Hassan Sheikh emphasised the strategic importance of Somalia's membership in the EAC, pointing out the potential gains through its coastal and land resources.

He underlined the significance of engaging with a vast market of 300 million people and expressed optimism about the mutual benefits that would arise from this partnership, both for Somalia and the other member countries.

"Somalia and its people should embrace engagement with 300 million other people; our newfound market extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. We stand to benefit immensely from these partnerships, and likewise, they will greatly benefit from us," said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.