Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has met with Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisalam Ali in an effort to ease diplomatic concerns following reports of difficulties faced by some Somali officials entering Kenya.
The meeting was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the sidelines of the African Union’s 49th Executive Council session. The two leaders discussed immigration challenges and agreed to strengthen cooperation on consular issues and the movement of citizens and government officials between Kenya and Somalia.
In a statement issued after the talks, Kenya and Somalia committed to improving bilateral relations, facilitating smoother travel arrangements, and preventing future incidents involving denied entry or deportation of travellers.
The discussions came shortly after reports that Somalia’s State Minister at the Presidency, Abshir Bukhaari, was denied entry into Kenya at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and sent back to Mogadishu over questions surrounding the Kenyan passport he was allegedly travelling with.
However, neither the Kenyan nor Somali government has officially confirmed details of the incident, and no formal statement explaining the circumstances has been released by either side.
The meeting also followed complaints from some Somali officials and citizens who claimed they had experienced delays and challenges in obtaining visas and travel approvals to enter Kenya.
Reports indicated that Somalia’s federal government had summoned Kenya’s ambassador following the reported incident involving Bukhaari, highlighting concerns over cross-border movement and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
During the Addis Ababa meeting, both governments reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on immigration, consular services, and issues affecting regional stability.
The talks come amid continued collaboration between Kenya and Somalia in areas such as trade, security, infrastructure development, and regional integration, despite occasional disagreements over border management, immigration, and political matters.
Last month, Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Jibril Haji Abdirashid dismissed claims circulating online that he had posed a security threat during a visit to Kenya. He described the allegations as false and reiterated his commitment to maintaining strong relations between the two neighbouring countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister also recognised Kenya’s longstanding support to Somalia through humanitarian assistance, hosting refugees, and regional security efforts, noting that cooperation between the two nations remains important for stability in the region.
By agreeing to improve diplomatic coordination and address immigration concerns, Kenya and Somalia have signalled their intention to prevent recent travel disputes from escalating while protecting their broader partnership.