Somalia, Kenya Parliament Speakers Meet in Tanzania to Strengthen Cooperation

ARUSHA, Tanzania — Somalia’s Speaker of the House of the People, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jama, met his Kenyan counterpart, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, in Arusha to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two countries’ parliaments.

The meeting focused on parliamentary cooperation, the exchange of legislative experience and efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, according to a statement following the talks.

The two speakers also discussed the role of parliaments in representing the interests and aspirations of their respective populations, stressing the importance of relations based on mutual respect, understanding and shared interests.

They said stronger cooperation between the Somali and Kenyan parliaments could contribute to efforts to promote peace, stability and development in both countries and across the wider region.

The meeting took place in Arusha, where Jama is attending regional and international parliamentary meetings.

The talks come as Somalia and Kenya continue to maintain close political, economic and security ties, with both countries sharing a border and facing common challenges in the wider Horn of Africa region.

Parliamentary diplomacy has increasingly been used by the two countries to strengthen institutional links and provide a platform for lawmakers to exchange experiences on governance, legislation and public representation.

Jama and Wetang’ula also underscored the importance of cooperation between legislative institutions in supporting broader bilateral relations.

Their meeting was held on the sidelines of parliamentary engagements in Arusha, bringing together lawmakers and officials from across the region and beyond.

The Somali delegation’s participation in the meetings provides an opportunity for Mogadishu to engage with regional parliamentary leaders and discuss issues affecting peace, stability and development in East Africa.

Somalia and Kenya have longstanding ties, although relations between the neighbouring countries have at times been affected by disagreements over security, trade, borders and maritime issues.

Both governments have also cooperated on regional security, particularly efforts to counter Al-Shabaab and improve stability along their shared border.