Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has renewed calls for unity and peace in Africa after holding a high-level meeting with Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Ilyas Ali Jabril, in Nairobi on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs headquarters, focused on deepening Kenya–Somalia relations and strengthening collaboration in key areas such as counterterrorism, cross-border trade, education exchange, and infrastructure development.
Mudavadi said peace and security are essential to Africa’s growth and prosperity, emphasising that stability across the continent creates opportunities for trade, integration, and development.
“Peace and security stand at the heart of Africa’s progress, creating the foundation for people-to-people movement and unlocking opportunities that strengthen diplomatic and economic ties across the continent. Kenya remains steadfast in advancing the continent’s stability, guided by the spirit of unity and cooperation, and anchored on the rich historical bonds we share with our neighbours and partners,” Mudavadi stated.
He added that his talks with Ambassador Jabril were productive and aimed at finding ways to build long-term partnerships that would benefit both countries.
“Held productive discussions with the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia, @Ijabril, exploring areas of collaboration that will foster regional stability, deepen bilateral cooperation and open new pathways for shared growth and prosperity,” Mudavadi added.
The meeting comes at a critical time for the Horn of Africa, which is facing a combination of security threats and humanitarian crises, including violent extremism, climate-induced displacement, and food insecurity. Experts say the renewed engagement between Nairobi and Mogadishu reflects a shared commitment to rebuilding trust and promoting regional stability.
Kenya has played a central role in Somalia’s peace and reconstruction efforts for years. It has hosted hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees and supported peacekeeping operations under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
Economic ties between the two countries have also strengthened, with Kenya exporting miraa, food products, and construction materials to Somalia.
The reopening of the Kenya–Somalia border has further boosted cross-border trade and movement of people.
Despite their strong ties, relations between the two nations have occasionally been strained by challenges such as the 2021 maritime boundary dispute and temporary border closures linked to insecurity.
If the new cooperation framework is implemented effectively, it could help transform Kenya and Somalia into regional anchors of stability, growth, and unity.
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