The breakaway Horn of Africa region of Somaliland has held an inauguration event of the region’s liaison office in Nairobi, days after Kenya’s Foreign Ministry issued a formal diplomatic note halting the planned inauguration of the new office.
The event was previously scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, and was expected to coincide with the visit of Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi, who arrived earlier in Nairobi to a low-key welcome led by the Ministry of Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho.
In an official notice dated Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed that the event be abandoned as it had not received the necessary approval.
However, President Abdirahman on Thursday officially inaugurated the new Somaliland Embassy in Kenya.
In videos seen by The Kenya Times, dignitaries, including Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii were seen arriving at the Somaliland mission in Nairobi for its inauguration, where they were welcomed by Somaliland Representative to Kenya & Head of Mission Mohamed Barawani.
This comes after Kenya blocked Somaliland’s attempt to elevate its representation in Nairobi to diplomatic status, disrupting a planned Tuesday office launch.
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, in a diplomatic note circulated on Tuesday night, confirmed that it had not authorised the event, despite President Abdullahi’s arrival for what his office described as a “strategic diplomatic visit.”
Jubaland and Puntland leaders to meet in Nairobi
The ministry in the letter addressed to the Somaliland Liaison Office in Nairobi further reaffirmed Kenya’s recognition of the Federal Government of Somalia as the sole legitimate authority over Somali territories, including the semi-autonomous regions of Somaliland and Jubaland.
“To the extent the event of 27 May 2025 has not been granted approval from 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,” read part of the statement.
“The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs wishes to reiterate that the Government of the Republic of Kenya maintains and respectfully reaffirms its unwavering recognition of the Federal Republic of Somalia as a sovereign State.”
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Kenya, however, reiterated its intention to maintain working relationships with Somaliland and other regional governments, while emphasising that such engagement must occur through coordination with Mogadishu.
“Kenya appreciates its relations with Somaliland and other regional governments, which are meant to enhance peace, security, trade, and investment in the region,”: the ministry added.
Ahead of Abdullahi’s visit, the Foreign Office had released a statement reaffirming Kenya’s respect for Somalia’s “sovereignty, territorial integrity, national unity, and political independence,” and restating its unequivocal recognition of Mogadishu as the central authority.
Still, Nairobi maintained it would continue to engage sub-national entities such as Jubaland and Somaliland.
“To advance the partnership, Kenya will maintain contact and relations with sub-national governments in Jubaland and Somaliland, and in consultation with the Federal Government of Somalia… with the aim of supporting security cooperation and commercial interests and in line with the principles of mutual respect and good neighbourliness,” the statement read.
History of Somaliland
Somaliland has been a self-governing region of Somalia for more than three decades, but its claim of independence is not recognised by Mogadishu or any foreign government.
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While this has limited Somaliland’s access to international markets, it has not prevented the breakaway state from making steady democratic gains. Some analysts say Somaliland, which has a distinct history and remains more stable than the rest of Somalia, has a strong case for independence.
Somaliland is part of Somalia and the larger Horn of Africa region. It has hundreds of miles of coastline along the Gulf of Aden to the north, and it borders Ethiopia to the south and west and Djibouti to the northwest
Puntland, a semiautonomous state of Somalia that lies due east, disputes some of Somaliland’s territorial claims.
The breakaway region broke ties with Somalia’s government in Mogadishu after declaring independence in 1991, and the region has sought international recognition as an independent state since then.
No foreign government recognises its sovereignty, but many effectively acknowledge Somaliland as separate from Somalia.
The region has held several peaceful democratic elections since 2003.
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