Your account has been succesfully created.

EN FR

The Morning Brief
Log in

Password

Keep me logged in

Forgot your password?
Subscribe

Horn of Africa
Kenyatta and Abiy's friendship begins to fray

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali at the inauguration of the Moyale border crossing in December 2020. © Abiy Ahmed Ali/Twitter

The Kenyan and Ethiopian heads of state are trying to have IGAD play to their tune, dampening the impact of the regional organisation's initiatives. [...]

Published on 05/01/2021 at 06:00 GMT Reading time 3 minutes

This article may be accessed by subscribers

In order to ensure high-quality and independent journalism, Africa Intelligence relies solely on subscriptions from its readers, with no advertising, no events and no consulting work.

Several offers are available depending on your particular reading needs

Consult our offers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

Discover our work by making use of the following possibilities: daily newsletters, a selection of free articles, keyword alerts.

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

create a free account

Politics

Set up email notifications for these topics

Abiy Ahmed Ali
African Union
Africom
Ahmed Mohamed Islam
Al Shabaab
Amisom
Farmajo
Intergovernmental Authority on Development
Kyle McCarter
Madobe
Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed
Musa Bihi Abdi
Stephen Townsend
Tigray People's Liberation Front
TPLF
Uhuru Kenyatta
UN

Somalia, United States
MAG Aerospace's drone experts at the ready for US Army's return

The US Army is returning to Somalia after Joe Biden reversed his predecessor Donald Trump's decision to withdraw. Private operator MAG Aerospace will help with the redeployment by coordinating the surveillance drones.

Subscribers only Defence, Business 25.05.2022

Kenya, Somalia
Jubaland, a major territorial issue for Farmajo, Ruto and Odinga

Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe has been at daggers drawn with the Somali president since 2019. Kenya's presidential election this year may well seal his fate.

Subscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 06.04.2022

The President of the Somali federal state of Jubaland, Ahmed Madobe.

Ethiopia, Kenya
Nairobi's reluctant change of tune on refugee camps

The UNHCR has obtained government approval from Kenya to start improvement works at the Kakuma refugee camp in the north-east of the country. This decision is urgent as the countries bordering Ethiopia may have to absorb a possible influx of refugees.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 24.11.2021

Ethiopia
Berhane Gebre-Christos, Tigray rebels' top diplomat

Ethiopia's former ambassador to the US and the EU orchestrated the early November creation of an enlarged rebel coalition. Based in Washington, Berhane has the support of international networks forged over his 45-year career.

Subscribers only Politics 23.11.2021

Former Ethiopian Foreign Minister Berhane Gebre-Christos.

Somalia
Farmajo bets on the collapse of relations with Amisom

Last week's expulsion of Amisom's number two is a reflection of the struggle for influence between the African Union and the Somali government over the future of the peacekeeping mission.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 10.11.2021

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, also known as Farmajo.

Kenya
Johnson and Kenyatta review status of BATUK forces

Under pressure from the leaders of the Kenyan counties where British forces are stationed, President Uhuru Kenyatta is demanding that the troops of the British Army Training Unit Kenya - a controversial hangover from the colonial era - be subject to Kenyan law.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 09.11.2021

Kenya's president Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and UK prime minister Boris Johnsonat the COP26 in Glasgow, on 1 November 2021.

Kenya, Somalia
Washington weighs into Kenya-Somalia border row

Following the 12 October ruling in favour of Somalia by the International Court of Justice, the US hopes to bring the Kenyan and Somali presidents back to the negotiating table. But the plan is provoking very different reactions from Kenyatta and Farmajo.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 18.10.2021

Spotlight | Horn of Africa
Sudan fills diplomatic space abandoned by Addis

Sudanese prime minister Abdallah Hamdok has taken advantage of his position as chairman of regional, inter-governmental body IGAD to launch a series of diplomatic initiatives in the region.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 25.08.2021

Somalia
AMISOM's future looks bleak

Two separate independent reports have been commissioned in less than a year on the future of the African Union's intervention force in Somalia. They agree on what the many problems are, but not on what needs to be done to fix them.

Subscribers only Defence, Politics 27.07.2021

AMISOM Sector 5 Commander, Brig. Gen. Télesphore Barandereka (Second from right) visits a Field Operating Base (FOB) in Ceel Macaan, Middle Shabele region of Hirshabele State in Somalia on 11 June 2021.

Spotlight | Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan
Sissi struggles to rally Kenyatta on GERD

A UN Security Council meeting on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is being held in New York this Thursday, at Tunisia's request. Egypt is pushing hard for the adoption of a resolution on the issue, despite a lack of consensus between the council's African members.

Subscribers only Energy, Diplomacy 08.07.2021

Somalia
Weakening of Farmajo and Bihi could open way to resumption of dialogue

The electoral crisis in Somalia and the parliamentary election in Somaliland have weakened the two incumbent presidents, who have fallen back on patriotic rhetoric that leaves little room for a potential rapprochement. However, the situation could work in favour of their opponents, who are more amenable to a resumption of dialogue.

Subscribers only Politics 11.06.2021

Somalia
Farmajo scores minor victory but loses ground to rival Madobe

The Somali president did not directly participate in the negotiations that led to the deal that is supposed to end the country's electoral impasse. He did score a minor victory on one of his claims.

Subscribers only Politics 01.06.2021

Somalia's president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.

Kenya, Somalia
Kenyatta tries to sidestep arbitration and resolve border dispute with Mogadishu via Doha

For fear of losing, Kenya has decided to boycott the arbitration hearings at the International Court of Justice on its martime border dispute with Somalia and is hoping to find a solution instead with the help of Doha.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 19.03.2021

Ghana
Adm Seth Amoama to steer Accra's bid for Security Council seat

With Ghana in the running for a UN Security Council seat, new military chief Seth Amoama has an ace up his sleeve in the game of military diplomacy: his country's blue helmets.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 08.03.2021

Somalia
Farmajo is rescheduling the presidential election and did not invite the opposition

President Farmajo is stoking the fire by excluding members of the opposition as he lays down the roadmap for the next election.

Subscribers only Politics 04.03.2021

Incumbent Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, aka Farmajo.

Spotlight | Kenya, Somalia, Turkey
Erdogan wades into maritime border dispute between Kenyatta and Farmajo

With the ICJ due to rule on the issue of their maritime borders in a few weeks' time, Nairobi and Mogadishu remain very much at daggers drawn. By dispatching its foreign minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu to the region, Ankara is hoping to become the indispensable mediator between the two countries.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 25.02.2021

Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed aka Farmajo (left) with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Somalia
London deploys ISSEE deminers to Somalia

By stepping up efforts to counter improvised explosive devices and by training Somali army troops, the United Kingdom intends to continue the fight against Al-Shabaab, to compensate for the withdrawal of US forces.

Subscribers only Defence, Business 10.02.2021

Ethiopia, Somalia
The TPLF point men still disrupting Somali politics

Certain members of the Somali political class have such a strong allegiance to the TPLF that it is polarising the upcoming presidential election.

Subscribers only Politics 02.02.2021

Kenya, Somalia
Kenya's Somali community steps up pressure on Kenyatta over border tensions

Several big guns in the Kenyan government who hail from the region bordering Somalia are urging President Uhuru Kenyatta to revive dialogue with his Somalian counterpart Farmajo.

Free access Politics, Diplomacy 29.01.2021

Ethiopia, Somalia
Abiy frustrated at Farmajo's lack of support

For months the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has offered his support to Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed's bid for another term in February but is beginning to lose patience with the Somalian president's failure to return the favour.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 21.01.2021

Djibouti
Omar Guelleh angers Khartoum as he courts favour with Abiy

The Djiboutian president has raised hackles among the top brass in the Sudanese army as he seeks closer ties with the Ethiopian prime minister in the hope of persuading him to forget his long-running friendship with the Tigrayan leadership.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 20.01.2021

President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh (left) talks with Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali (right) during the 33rd African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 09 February 2020.

Ethiopia
Abiy surrounds himself with Tigray figures as crisis rages on

While still waging war against the TPLF, the Ethiopian prime minister has gathered round prominent figures of the Tigray people to assert his authority over the region.

Subscribers only Politics 14.01.2021

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.

Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia
Kenyatta aims to get the Horn of Africa on to Security Council agenda

The Tigray crisis and the security situation in Somalia will be given close attention by Martin Kimani, Uhuru Kenyatta's new permanent representative to the United Nations.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 11.01.2021

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly.

Horn of Africa
IOG and Kenyatta join forces to prevent Somalian president's re-election

Following Uhuru Kenyatta's lead, Djibouti's head of state is using Somaliland as leverage to damage Farmajo's reputation.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 08.01.2021

The President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Ethiopia
IGAD summit: Abiy issues flat refusal to African Union

It was without much enthusiasm that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali headed to Djibouti on Sunday to attend an IGAD summit.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 22.12.2020

Spotlight | Kenya, Somalia
Kenyatta and Odinga play the Somaliland card to weaken Farmajo's 2021 election chances

For three days, the Kenyan head of state rolled out the red carpet for Somaliland president Muse Bihi Abdi. Bihi himself took advantage of the trip to meet one of the leaders of the opposition to Somali president Farmajo, with the help of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Subscribers only Politics 21.12.2020

Uhuru Kenyatta and Musa Bihi Abdi, on 14 December 2020 in Nairobi.

Kenya
Kenyatta under pressure from Washington, London and Brussels to negotiate with Farmajo

As Uhuru Kenyatta and his Somalian opposite number Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo position their armies on either side of their common border, American, British and European diplomats are trying to persuade the Kenyan head of state to engage in talks.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 18.12.2020

President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta (right) with President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo in 2017.

Kenya, Somalia
IGAD hopes to break Nairobi-Mogadishu impasse

The inter-regional institution's 20 December meeting, announced by Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, will give presidents Kenyatta and Farmajo a chance to discuss the border crisis their ministers are unable to settle.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 15.12.2020

Ethiopia, Kenya
Tigray crisis: Kenyatta struggles to convince Abiy to accept regional support

Abiy Ahmed Ali has adamantly rejected any outside help in his confrontation with Tigray's leaders. That hasn't stopped Uhuru Kenyatta trying to establish himself as the leader of a pro-Abiy regional coalition that would put into play AU demands for moderation.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 30.11.2020

Set up email notifications for these topics

Abiy Ahmed Ali
African Union
Africom
Ahmed Mohamed Islam
Al Shabaab
Amisom
Farmajo
Intergovernmental Authority on Development
Kyle McCarter
Madobe
Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed
Musa Bihi Abdi
Stephen Townsend
Tigray People's Liberation Front
TPLF
Uhuru Kenyatta
UN

Once registered, you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published. Stay informed anytime, anywhere!

Botswana, South Africa From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Mali, Senegal, Togo The secrets of Demex, the trader selling Russian oil in West Africa

African Union: the battle of the giants

West African cocoa cartel battles with the traders

The generals waging war from Khartoum to Darfur

Horn of Africa Kenyatta and Abiy's friendship begins to fray

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

Somalia, United States MAG Aerospace's drone experts at the ready for US Army's return

Kenya, Somalia Jubaland, a major territorial issue for Farmajo, Ruto and Odinga

Ethiopia, Kenya Nairobi's reluctant change of tune on refugee camps

Ethiopia Berhane Gebre-Christos, Tigray rebels' top diplomat

Somalia Farmajo bets on the collapse of relations with Amisom

Kenya Johnson and Kenyatta review status of BATUK forces

Kenya, Somalia Washington weighs into Kenya-Somalia border row

Spotlight | Horn of Africa Sudan fills diplomatic space abandoned by Addis

Somalia AMISOM's future looks bleak

Spotlight | Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan Sissi struggles to rally Kenyatta on GERD

Somalia Weakening of Farmajo and Bihi could open way to resumption of dialogue

Somalia Farmajo scores minor victory but loses ground to rival Madobe

Kenya, Somalia Kenyatta tries to sidestep arbitration and resolve border dispute with Mogadishu via Doha

Ghana Adm Seth Amoama to steer Accra's bid for Security Council seat

Somalia Farmajo is rescheduling the presidential election and did not invite the opposition

Spotlight | Kenya, Somalia, Turkey Erdogan wades into maritime border dispute between Kenyatta and Farmajo

Somalia London deploys ISSEE deminers to Somalia

Ethiopia, Somalia The TPLF point men still disrupting Somali politics

Kenya, Somalia Kenya's Somali community steps up pressure on Kenyatta over border tensions

Ethiopia, Somalia Abiy frustrated at Farmajo's lack of support

Djibouti Omar Guelleh angers Khartoum as he courts favour with Abiy

Ethiopia Abiy surrounds himself with Tigray figures as crisis rages on

Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia Kenyatta aims to get the Horn of Africa on to Security Council agenda

Horn of Africa IOG and Kenyatta join forces to prevent Somalian president's re-election

Ethiopia IGAD summit: Abiy issues flat refusal to African Union

Spotlight | Kenya, Somalia Kenyatta and Odinga play the Somaliland card to weaken Farmajo's 2021 election chances

Kenya Kenyatta under pressure from Washington, London and Brussels to negotiate with Farmajo

Kenya, Somalia IGAD hopes to break Nairobi-Mogadishu impasse

Ethiopia, Kenya Tigray crisis: Kenyatta struggles to convince Abiy to accept regional support

Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia Why Abiy and Issayas back Farmajo's re-election bid

Kenya All diplomatic hands on deck as Kenyatta guns for Amina Mohamed as next WTO chief

Document | Kenya Why Kenyatta boycotted IGAD

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Mali, Senegal, Togo
The secrets of Demex, the trader selling Russian oil in West Africa

Horn of Africa
Kenyatta and Abiy's friendship begins to fray

Somalia, United States
MAG Aerospace's drone experts at the ready for US Army's return

Kenya, Somalia
Jubaland, a major territorial issue for Farmajo, Ruto and Odinga

Ethiopia, Kenya
Nairobi's reluctant change of tune on refugee camps

Ethiopia
Berhane Gebre-Christos, Tigray rebels' top diplomat

Somalia
Farmajo bets on the collapse of relations with Amisom

Kenya
Johnson and Kenyatta review status of BATUK forces

Kenya, Somalia
Washington weighs into Kenya-Somalia border row

Spotlight | Horn of Africa
Sudan fills diplomatic space abandoned by Addis

Somalia
AMISOM's future looks bleak

Spotlight | Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan
Sissi struggles to rally Kenyatta on GERD

Somalia
Weakening of Farmajo and Bihi could open way to resumption of dialogue

Somalia
Farmajo scores minor victory but loses ground to rival Madobe

Kenya, Somalia
Kenyatta tries to sidestep arbitration and resolve border dispute with Mogadishu via Doha

Ghana
Adm Seth Amoama to steer Accra's bid for Security Council seat

Somalia
Farmajo is rescheduling the presidential election and did not invite the opposition

Spotlight | Kenya, Somalia, Turkey
Erdogan wades into maritime border dispute between Kenyatta and Farmajo

Somalia
London deploys ISSEE deminers to Somalia

Ethiopia, Somalia
The TPLF point men still disrupting Somali politics

Kenya, Somalia
Kenya's Somali community steps up pressure on Kenyatta over border tensions

Ethiopia, Somalia
Abiy frustrated at Farmajo's lack of support

Djibouti
Omar Guelleh angers Khartoum as he courts favour with Abiy

Ethiopia
Abiy surrounds himself with Tigray figures as crisis rages on

Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia
Kenyatta aims to get the Horn of Africa on to Security Council agenda

Horn of Africa
IOG and Kenyatta join forces to prevent Somalian president's re-election

Ethiopia
IGAD summit: Abiy issues flat refusal to African Union

Spotlight | Kenya, Somalia
Kenyatta and Odinga play the Somaliland card to weaken Farmajo's 2021 election chances

Kenya
Kenyatta under pressure from Washington, London and Brussels to negotiate with Farmajo

Kenya, Somalia
IGAD hopes to break Nairobi-Mogadishu impasse

Ethiopia, Kenya
Tigray crisis: Kenyatta struggles to convince Abiy to accept regional support

Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia
Why Abiy and Issayas back Farmajo's re-election bid

Kenya
All diplomatic hands on deck as Kenyatta guns for Amina Mohamed as next WTO chief

Document | Kenya
Why Kenyatta boycotted IGAD