Kenya has abruptly cancelled a highly anticipated event to inaugurate a new Somaliland liaison office in Nairobi, leaving the visiting Somaliland President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro), stranded and surprised.
The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement on Monday, May 26, ordering that the event, which was planned for Tuesday, May 27, be immediately called off. According to the ministry, the event did not receive the necessary authorization from the government and therefore could not proceed.
“The Ministry further notes with concern that to the extent the event of May 27 has not been approved by this Ministry, its investiture of the status of a Diplomatic Office does not enjoy the imprimatur of the Republic of Kenya and cannot be allowed to proceed,” the statement read in part.
The Somaliland Liaison Office in Nairobi functions as Somaliland’s main representative body in Kenya. It manages trade issues, consular services, and diplomatic relations.
Although it operates similarly to an embassy, it is not formally recognized as one because Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has not gained international recognition.
As a result, its diplomatic offices abroad are officially classified as liaison offices, not embassies.
The planned inauguration was meant to elevate the status of the liaison office and possibly reflect stronger diplomatic cooperation between Kenya and Somaliland.
The cancellation comes just hours after Somaliland’s President Irro arrived in Nairobi. He was welcomed at the airport by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Mining and Blue Economy, Hassan Joho, signaling that the visit had been expected to proceed smoothly.
However, in its statement, the Kenyan government emphasized that the event had not been endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and therefore had no official standing. This move appeared to reinforce Kenya’s formal diplomatic stance on Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Somaliland’s government expressed disappointment, revealing that it had already sent a team to Kenya to handle advance preparations for the visit.
According to Hussein Adan Igeh, the Spokesman for the Somaliland President, senior representatives, including the President’s Special Envoy and Economic Advisor, had arrived earlier to ensure everything was in place.
“In advance of the delegation’s arrival, the President’s Special Envoy and Economic Advisor travelled to Nairobi to oversee preparatory arrangements and facilitate early engagements,” Igeh stated.
Notably, hours before cancelling the Somaliland office opening, Kenya had released a separate statement reaffirming its recognition of Somalia’s Federal Government based in Mogadishu.
Kenya said it upholds the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political unity of Somalia, acknowledging the federal government as the sole legitimate authority in the country.
“Kenya unequivocally recognises the authority of the Federal Government in Mogadishu as the sole and legitimate body responsible for administering the affairs of Somalia, including those of its regions,” part of the Kenyan statement read.
While this decision may seem like a diplomatic snub to Somaliland, Kenya clarified that it continues to engage with the self-declared republic on matters of mutual interest, especially trade and security.
Nevertheless, it stressed that the Liaison Office in Nairobi holds no formal diplomatic recognition under international law.
In closing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its continued willingness to work with Somaliland within the bounds of Kenya’s diplomatic principles.
“The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Liaison Office of Somaliland in Nairobi the assurances of its highest consideration,” the statement concluded.
Despite the setback, President Irro’s visit to Kenya is expected to continue over several days. His presence underscores Somaliland’s commitment to expanding regional ties, increasing its visibility on the international stage, and forming strategic partnerships to support the territory’s development goals and global recognition efforts.
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