Wednesday December 2, 2020
MOGADISHU (HOL) - Opposition presidential candidates have warned over what they said is an attempt by President Mohamed Farmaajo politicise relations with Kenya to gain local support in the upcoming elections.
The 14 candidates said in a joint statement they were concerned the future relations between the two countries would be compromised owing to the president’s bid for a second term in office.
“We are asking President Mohamed Farmaajo not to politicise the friendship of Somalia and its neighbours” the statement read in part. ‘We are concerned by the deteriorating relations and the impact it will have on Somali students, traders, refugees and travellers in Kenya.”
The politicians also took a swipe at Farmaajo over ‘doublespeak’. “In 2016, Kenya was Farmaajo’s headquarters and he even said Kenya was a friend of Somalia and Ethiopia was a long-running enemy.”
The remarks follow a decision Sunday by the Federal Government to expel the Kenyan ambassador Lucas Tumbo for what it said was Kenya's interference in its internal affairs.
Kenya has since dismissed the claims adding it had not received any official communication on the matter.