How Djibouti’s relationship with Somalia practically collapsed within the face of Kenya’s

NAIROBI, Kenya – Aden Hassan Aden is leaving Somalia after a rather smooth but difficult stint as Ambassador of Djibouti, which has almost strained relations between the two sister nations, which share almost historic socio-economic and political fortunes.

Last week, Aden Hassan Aden bade farewell to Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble and Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Gulaid, ending his tenure, in which Somalia nearly severed ties with your small country in the Horn of Africa, whose influence is growing rapidly in the Horn of Africa. .

Even before his departure, Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble attended the inauguration of Omar Ismail Guelleh in Djibouti, a clear demonstration that the two nations may have buried the bad policy of retaliation that almost surfaced at the start. of this year.

While bidding him farewell, Prime Minister Roble was quick to stress the importance of a stable relationship between Somalia and Djibouti, adding that: “I thanked him for strengthening our inherent bilateral relations and wished him good luck in his future engagements.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Mahdi Gulaid, the Deputy Prime Minister who also hosted Aden Hassan Aden, calling the two countries “brothers” on his Twitter account. He also noted a cordial relationship with Djibouti.

“It is a pleasure to bid farewell to the departure of Ambassador Hassan Aden who has served his country well; helping to develop more cordial relations during his five years in office in Mogadishu. Somalia and Djibouti are nations fraternal forever, ”he said.

One of the troubling moments was Aden Hassan Aden, the diplomat par excellence, in January this year when Somalia lodged a complaint over the troubled relations between Nairobi, which had taken a plunge that almost sparked an international crisis.

Somalia’s fury against Djibouti

The underlying tensions were sparked by a report drafted by a task force in Djibouti, which exonerated Kenya from alleged interference in Somalia’s internal affairs. The report also, among other things, exonerated KDF of alleged incompetence in the performance of its duties in the Gedo region.

In the report, allegations that Kenya hosted a Jubaland criminal enterprise were dismissed as “false and misleading”, which may have further angered Somalia. Mogadishu broke off relations with Kenya over the claims in December 2020.

But in a response, the Somali government strongly opposed a report on the diplomatic conflict between Somalia and Kenya that was submitted by the Djibouti committee to IGAD, in a statement released by the Minister of Information. Osman Abukar Dubbe.

Dubbe, a close ally of President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, insisted the report did not reflect information provided by Somalia, adding that members of the task force had been compromised by Kenya.

Djibouti said, however, that the fact-finding mission into the situation between Somalia and Kenya was conducted with professionalism and impartiality. “Djibouti was motivated only by the sole purpose of helping the two sister nations ease tensions …[Djibouti] adopted an impartial approach. ”

But despite the explanation, Somalia insisted that Kenya’s activities in Jubaland were “destructive” and violated the country’s “sovereignty”. While he did not immediately highlight plans to alienate Djibouti, Farmajo’s absence from Guelleh’s nomination could also have been a coded signal.

In addition to trying to settle the diplomatic feud between Kenya and Somalia, Djibouti is also a force contributing country to Somalia, as is Kenya. More than 3,000 troops nationwide are stationed in sections of Middle Shebelle, a notorious Al-Shabaab lair.

The growing influence of Djibouti

But the real picture of what Kenya-Somalia relations mean for Djibouti was well captured in the recent statement issued by Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti’s foreign minister, who is also a seasoned diplomat.

In his statement, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf welcomed the resumption of diplomatic relations between Kenya and Somalia, after the lifting of the old ban on all planes flying the Nairobi-Mogadishu route. Only humanitarian and medical evacuation flights were authorized before the ban was lifted.

“Djibouti welcomes the resumption of diplomatic relations between the sister Republic of Somalia and the sister Republic of Kenya. It is indeed a great development in our IGAD region for the sake of peace and stability,” he said in a statement.

Immediately after the declaration, the first direct flight to Mogadishu from Nairobi took off, signifying that Kenya was determined to normalize its relations with Somalia. Basically it should be noted that Qatar had tried to intervene but the solution did not last long before Kenya closed its skies.

“Djibouti has done more for Somalia than all the rest of the Horn put together – since the state collapsed in 1991. Farmajo has now turned on Djibouti. Portrayed Guelleh as Enemy # 2 – after Uhuru du Kenya: In Somali / Islamic culture, ingratitude is terrible behavior, “said Rashid Abdi, analyst on Horn of Africa issues.

Djibouti is currently President of the Intergovernmental Authority and Development [IGAD] which guides development and security in the Horn of Africa. By occupying this position, the country plays an essential role in the mediation of several African countries.

As a major player in peace in Africa, Djibouti has been the destination of many powers including the United States, whose army for Africa is domiciled in Djibouti. The Chinese are also stationed in Djibouti with Russians also trying to take a stand.

AXADLETM