Somalia walks out of diplomatic briefing in Kenya in protest of Somaliland’s presence

Somalia Ambassador to Kenya Mohamud Nur Tarsan walked out of a diplomatic meeting hosted by the Kenyan President after Somaliland’s representative to Kenya unprecedentedly appeared at the event.

Somalia’s embassy said it was “unfortunate” Kenya had “intentionally invited” a person from Somaliland to Kenyatta’s briefing to the diplomatic corps and had provided “equal privileges as that of a sovereign state despite the protest made by the Somali ambassador”.

Kenya said it regrets the “inadvertent and inappropriate” presence of the flag of the Somaliland at the annual diplomatic function, noting it will reaffirm its recognition of the sovereignty and integrity of one federal Somali government.

Meanwhile, Somaliland expressed ‘disappointment’ about the actions taken by the ambassador of Somalia to Kenya and said it clearly demonstrates the “hatred and long term enmity” of Somalia towards the Republic of Somaliland and its people.