Kenya hosts leader of breakaway Somaliland state

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta will on Monday hold talks with the President of the self-declared republic of Somaliland, Muse Bihi, amid frosty relations with neighbouring Somalia.

Somalia had last month expelled Kenya’s ambassador to Mogadishu and recalled its envoy from Nairobi. It accused Kenya of alleged interference in its internal and political affairs.

Kenya’s foreign affairs ministry said the talks between President Kenyatta and President Bihi will be on “mutual interests”.

“Somaliland is an important partner in the Horn of Africa region in the fight against terrorism and particularly al-Shabab,” it said in a tweet.

This is the second visit by a Somaliland leader following a similar one by President Kahin Riyale Kahin in 2006, it added.

Somaliland declared independence in 1991 but is not officially recognised by the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) or any country.