Kenya Recalls Ambassador to Somalia as Relationship Between the Two Countries Turns Sour

Kenya has recalled its envoy to Somalia Lt. Gen. Lucas Tumbo as the diplomatic row between the two neighboring countries appears to turn ugly.

Kenya has accused Somalia of auctioning oil and gas blocks located in disputed territory to the United Kingdom.

In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau says that the federal government of Somalia carelessly disregarded internationally accepted norms of boundary disputes resolution as well as political and diplomatic agreements in making the move.

“The Federal Government of Somalia has sadly demonstrated that it has not yet attained and embraced political maturity and diplomatic stance of a normal, well-adjusted and properly functioning modern government,” Macharia says.

PS Kamau has further termed the move by Somalia as ‘tragic and regretful.’

The auction for oil and gas blocks in the disputed territory allegedly took place in London on February 7th, 2019.

Kamau accuses the Somali government of taking for granted the support Kenya has offered it through political and humanitarian hardships.

“Kenya has stood with Somalia without once flinching on its responsibility to its neighbor nor shirking in its international responsibility to the people of Somalia,” he adds.

In a strongly worded statement, PS Macharia says that Kenya regrets the action as Somalia has "severely undermined existing cordial and brotherly relations between the two countries."

Somalia ambassador to Kenya has also been ordered to leave the country.