Kenya–Somalia relations

Kenya–Somalia relations are bilateral relations between Kenya and Somalia.

History

Throughout much of the 20th century, the Northern Frontier District (NFD) was a part of British East Africa. On June 26, 1960, four days before granting British Somaliland independence, the British government declared that all Somali-inhabited areas of East Africa should be unified in one administrative region. However, after the dissolution of the former British colonies in the region, Britain granted administration of the Northern Frontier District to Kenyan nationalists despite an informal plebiscite demonstrating the overwhelming desire of the region's population to join the newly formed Somali Republic.^[1] On the eve of Kenyan independence in August 1963, British officials belatedly realized that the new Kenyan administration was not willing to give up the Somali-inhabited areas it had just been granted administration of. Led by the Northern Province People's Progressive Party (NPPPP), Somalis in the NFD vigorously sought union with their kin in the Somali Republic to the north.^[2] In response, the Kenyan government enacted a number of repressive measures designed to frustrate their efforts in what came to be known as the Shifta War.^[3] Although the conflict ended in a cease-fire, Somalis in the region still identify and maintain close ties with their kin in Somalia, and see themselves as one people.^[4]

In October 2011, a coordinated operation between the Somali military and the Kenyan military began against the Al-Shabaab group of insurgents in southern Somalia.^[5][6] The mission was officially led by the Somali army, with the Kenyan forces providing a support role.^[6] In early June 2012, Kenyan troops were formally integrated into AMISOM.^[7] By September 2012, the Somali National Army and allied Kenyan African Union forces and Raskamboni militia had managed to capture Al-Shabaab's last major stronghold, the southern port of Kismayo, during the Battle of Kismayo.^[8]

References

v t e Foreign relations of Kenya Africa Malawi Somalia Uganda Americas Canada United States Asia China India Indonesia Israel Malaysia Pakistan Sri Lanka United Arab Emirates Australia and Oceania Australia Europe Denmark Greece Russia Diplomatic missions Diplomatic missions of / in Kenya

v t e Foreign relations of Somalia Horn of Africa Djibouti Ethiopia Europe Denmark France Italy United Kingdom East Asia China Japan South Korea Arab world United Arab Emirates Yemen Other regions Kenya Pakistan Turkey United States Related topics Diplomatic missions of / in Somalia Somali passport