Kenya Denies Plans to Set Up an Embassy in Somaliland

The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has denied reports that Kenya plans to set up an embassy in Hargeisa. 

Hargeisa is the capital of Somaliland, a de facto sovereign state in the Horn of Africa that is still considered internationally to be part of Somalia.

“I wish to clarify that Kenya does not have any plans to set up an embassy in Hargeisa, as has been erroneously reported in some established and social media,” Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said on Friday.

Citing Executive Order No.1 of 2023 by President Ruto, Business Daily reported that the government planned to open seven new foreign missions in Djibouti, Bern (Switzerland), Arusha (Tanzania), Goma (DRC), Jakarta (Indonesia) and Hargeisa (Somaliland).

Somaliland has been seeking to establish relations with other countries including Kenya, which set up a Liaison Office in Hargeisa in September 2021 and deployed four officers.

In 2020, Somalia sent a protest note and cut ties with Kenya after Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi made a visit to Nairobi and held talks with former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Somalia, which is opposed to Somaliland’s quest to be recognized as an independent State, accused Kenya of meddling in its affairs.

Kenya and Somalia have since restored diplomatic relations.