Hiiraan Online
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
NAIROBI (HOL) ----Kenyan president has received diplomatic credentials from six ambassadors including Somalia’s new ambassador to Kenya and welcomed him into his new post amid border row between the two neighboring countries.
At a formal ceremony at the presidential palace Tuesday, president Uhuru Kenyatta has held a bilateral meeting with the new Somali ambassador Jamal Hassan who was wearing the typical Somali traditional clothing of a sarong and a large cloth wrapped around his upper body as the two men discussed boosting friendly and practical corporation between the two countries.
Appointed in March, Mr. Jamal has succeeded Mohamed Ali Americo who served as the Somali ambassador to Kenya for years.
In attendance at the ceremony also was Kenya’s foreign minister Amina Mohamed who encouraged the new ambassadors to contribute to bilateral ties between Kenya and their respective countries.
During the ceremony, Kenyatta has also received credentials from the new Ukraine’s Ambassador to Kenya Amb. Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk, High Commissioner of Zambia Brenda Muntemba and Ambassador Erasmo Roberto Martinez of Mexico.
Among the new diplomats whose credentials were also received by Kenyan president is the incoming Israeli Ambassador to Kenya Amb. Yahel Vilan, and High Commissioner John Michael Haule of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Mr. Kenyatta has assured the new diplomats that his country would further enhance bilateral relations with their countries and wished the new ambassadors success in their new posts.
“The Republic of Kenya is pleased to welcome you into Kenya and assure you that we shall strive to enhance our mutual longstanding relationship in the interest of the people of our countries.” He said.
The development comes amid strained ties between Somalia and its neighboring Kenya after Somalia’s government has taken Kenya to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to end the long-running border dispute linked to lucrative oil and gas reserves in the Indian Ocean, Somalia insists on legal case to resolve the matter.
Somalia says the dispute risks deterring multinational oil companies from exploring for oil and gas offshore East Africa.
Kenya recently identified eight new offshore exploration blocks available for licensing, and all but one of them are located in the contested area.