Kenya and Somalia announced signing of agreements to resume trade of miraa (khat) from Kenya to Somalia as well as fish from Somalia to Kenya. This was announced after a state visit by Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Friday 15th July 2022. Somalia had banned importation of miraa from Kenya in 2020 due to frosty bilateral relations between the two countries.
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KQ Flights
The countries also agreed to the resumption of Kenya Airways (KQ) flights scheduled flights to Mogadishu on the existing Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA). KQ flights have been at the centre of the souring relations between the countries in the past with Somalia severing diplomatic ties with Kenya in December 2020 before reinstating them in May 2021.
Combating Drought
Kenya and Somalia further agreed to collaborate with other regional and international actors to provide humanitarian assistance to mitigate the effects of the current drought in the Horn of Africa region.
Read Also: World Bank Approves $143 Million Funding for Somalia’s Drought Response
Reopening the Border
Furthermore, they agreed to the opening of the border between the two countries in order to ease the movement of people and enhance trade in goods and services.
Visas
Some of the other agreements include a proposal to process visas for holders of ordinary passports within ten (10) working days.
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