Monday December 21, 2020
DJIBOUTI (HOL) - The regional body IGAD refrained from mention of the Somalia-Kenya diplomatic tensions in its final communique Monday amid expectations the issue would feature prominently in the talks.
A communique released Monday only referred to Elections and Security in Somalia but stayed clear of the impasse pitying the two nations.
statement which came a day after the meeting signifying lengthy negotiations on the final draft also affirmed the Ethiopian Government’s intervention in Tigray region.
Somalia said last week it had submitted a letter to the IGAD chairman Abdalla Hamdok who chairs the eight member regional bloc.
The letter which added to a series of actions Somalia has taken against Kenya was premised by Villa Somalia on the understanding that IGAD would intervene on the matter.
But the regional bloc which draws membership from economic powerhouses like Kenya and Ethiopia both of which were hesitant on regional intervention on their respective states has for a long time taken decisions aligned to member state influence.
However, a meeting between Presidents Kenyatta and Farmaajo earlier in the day may have informed the decision not to factor in the diplomatic tussle in the final communique.
Sources said the two countries have been under international influence to resolve their disputes at bilateral level as they have in the past.