Tanzania (KAAB TV) – A diplomatic row has erupted between the Embassy of the Federal Government of Somalia in Tanzania and the Somali Embassy in Kenya, centering on who holds the legal authority to represent Somalia’s interests in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Somali Embassy in Tanzania, which claims official jurisdiction over Somalia’s diplomatic affairs in the DRC, expressed surprise and disapproval after learning that Gabriel Ibrahim Abdulle, Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya, had recently led a delegation to Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC.
According to a statement issued by the Tanzanian-based Somali mission, the trip was undertaken without prior consultation or coordination with their office—something they described as a violation of diplomatic protocol and a breach of standard operating procedures under Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC).
Ambassador Abdulle, on the other hand, defended his visit, stating that it followed more than a year of ongoing discussions with the DRC Embassy in Nairobi and Somali business stakeholders residing in or connected to the DRC. His delegation reportedly included a mix of Somali and Kenyan businessmen aiming to explore economic cooperation and opportunities in the DRC.
The visit triggered widespread debate on social media platforms and was covered extensively by local media in both Somalia and the DRC, raising questions about internal coordination within Somalia’s diplomatic corps.
The core issue revolves around the ambiguity regarding which Somali mission is officially accredited to manage diplomatic and consular affairs in the DRC. This lack of clarity has now manifested in public discord between two prominent Somali diplomatic posts.
Despite the growing attention the dispute has received, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet released an official statement addressing the matter or clarifying the rightful diplomatic authority over the DRC.
Observers note that the incident underscores broader issues of coordination and communication within the Somali foreign service, which could impact the country’s international diplomatic standing if not swiftly addressed.