NAIROBI, Kenya – The president of Somalia Hassan Sheikh has arrived in Nairobi on Wednesday to attend a UN environmental summit, according to the presidential palace.
The president was warmly welcomed at the state house by his Kenyan counterpart William Samoei Ruto, who is hosting dozens of leaders invited to the the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, UNEA-6.
The two leaders discussed ways and means to expand close partnership on a wide range of issues, including further developing bilateral economic and security ties to the benefit of both the people of Somalia and Kenya.
The president of Kenya hosted Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed before the arrival of Hassan Sheikh in the state House on Wednesday afternoon. Abiy left Nairobi for Addis Ababa.
There is a rising tension between Somalia and Ethiopia which started over the signing of a maritime MoU between Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi and Abiy Ahmed on 1st January.
Ruto is trying to mediate between the two countries to end the tension, according to the sources. President Hassan Sheikh previously said he would not sit down with Abiy Ahmed until he retracts the MoU.
Ethiopia attempts to conquer the 20-km Red Sea from Somalia through an illegal MoU with a breakaway region, which President Hassan Sheikh described as a clear violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
