By Abdi Sheikh
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somalia severed diplomatic relations with neighboring Kenya on Tuesday, accusing political interference when protests and gunfire broke out in the capital, Mogadishu, over postponed elections.
The dispute could undermine cooperation in the fight against the Islamist group al Shabaab in Somalia, where Kenya is supplying 3,600 troops to an African Union peacekeeping force.
“Somalia is recalling all its diplomats from Kenya and ordering Kenyan diplomats to leave Somalia within seven days,” Somali Information Minister Osman Dube told the state news agency.
Dube added in a statement read on Radio Mogadishu that Nairobi was involved, but gave no further details.
“This is in response to Kenya’s ongoing political violation and overt interference in Somalia’s independence,” he said.
The Kenyan government did not immediately respond.
Mogadishu’s step to cut ties followed a two-day visit to Kenya by Muse Bihi Abdi, president of Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, which ended Monday.
During the visit, Abdi and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta pledged “unwavering commitment to deepen cordial bilateral relations” between Kenya and Somaliland, according to a statement by the Kenyan Presidency.
Mogadishu considers Somaliland to be an integral part of Somalia.
Last month, Somalia dismissed the Nairobi ambassador and recalled its own envoy after alleged interference in the election process in Jubbaland.
Jubbaland, bordering Kenya, is one of the five semi-autonomous states of Somalia.
Also last year, Kenya recalled its ambassador after Mogadishu decided to auction disputed offshore oil and gas exploration blocks. The ties were repaired a few months later.
GUNFIRE
The diplomatic flare-up came when anti-government protests broke out in Mogadishu. Protesters denounced President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed – usually known by his nickname “Farmaajo” (cheese) – for delayed votes in both houses of parliament.
The polls were expected early this month, but got stuck by disagreements over the composition of the electoral council.
The opposition accuses the government of wrapping it up with sympathizers, which officials deny.
“We don’t want a dictator, we don’t want Farmaajo,” hundreds of protesters called on him to stop. Some wore placards saying “Farmaajo is a curse”.
Armed men in plain clothes guarded the protesters, but soon began exchanging gunfire with the police, prompting the protesters to get to safety. One witness, Halima, Farah told Reuters she had seen two injured people.
There was no immediate response from the government to the protests.
(Reported by Abdi Sheikh; Written by Clement Uwiringiyimana / Elias Biryabarema; Edited by Omar Mohammed, Andrew Cawthorne and Angus MacSwan)