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Somalia's Prime Minister set to strengthen bilateral ties on maiden visit to Kenya

Somalia Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre.

By Abdirahman Khalif | Thursday, April 25, 2024

During his visit, Prime Minister Bare is expected to sign nine bilateral agreements on behalf of Somalia, covering a wide range of areas including security, defense, aviation, trade, investment, and social services.

Somalia's Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Bare, is poised to embark on his inaugural official visit to Kenya early next month, marking a significant juncture in the diplomatic rapport between the two nations.

Confirming the visit to the Eastleigh Voice, Somalia's Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, revealed that the trip is slated for either May 5 or 6, with the exact date pending finalisation.

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During his visit, Prime Minister Bare is expected to sign nine bilateral agreements on behalf of Somalia, covering a wide range of areas including security, defense, aviation, trade, investment, and social services.

These discussions emphasise the shared commitment of both countries to strengthen their ties and foster cooperation across multiple sectors.

In addition to meetings in Nairobi, the Prime Minister will also journey to Garissa town, with sources indicating a visit to the Dadaab refugee camp. This will mark the Prime Minister of Somalia's first visit to Dadaab since 2015 when Omar Abdirashid toured the camp.

Hamza's visit is expected to further strengthen the diplomatic relations between the two East African Nations and address the shared challenges.

The anticipated trip assumes heightened significance against the backdrop of recent efforts by Kenya and Somalia to normalize and enhance their diplomatic relations.

Moves to streamline trade facilitation and promote ease of movement have been prominent, exemplified by initiatives like Kenya Airways' direct flights between Nairobi and Mogadishu

The economic ties between Kenya and Somalia are substantial, with over 40,000 Kenyans employed across diverse sectors in Somalia, particularly in construction and hospitality.

Ambassador Jabril highlighted Somalia's emerging status as a hub for Kenyan expatriates, projecting it to soon host the largest Kenyan diaspora on the continent.

"Soon, the largest number of Kenyans living outside Kenya will be in Somalia thanks to the good relationship between the two countries." Said Jabril.

According to the Ambassador, Somalia also spends more in Kenya than any other East African country. It also provides the largest market for Kenyan Khat earning Nairobi billions of shillings in revenue