Foreign ministers commit to improving immigration coordination, consular services and cross-border mobility during bilateral talks in Addis Ababa.
DIPLOMACY | ASAL POST
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Kenya and Somalia have agreed to strengthen cooperation on migration, immigration and consular services following high-level bilateral talks held on the sidelines of the 49th Session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council in Addis Ababa.
The meeting brought together Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, and Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, as the two neighbouring countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations and addressing challenges affecting cross-border movement.
During the discussions, the two ministers focused on migration policy, immigration cooperation and the challenges faced by citizens travelling between Kenya and Somalia.
They agreed to strengthen coordination between immigration authorities, improve the delivery of consular services and facilitate smoother movement of people while safeguarding regional security.
The talks come at a time when Somali citizens continue to face additional travel requirements when entering Kenya.
In January 2025, the Kenyan Cabinet approved the exemption of citizens from most African countries from obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before travelling to Kenya. However, Somalia and Libya were excluded from the exemption, with the Kenyan government citing security concerns.
On the other hand, Somalia introduced its own Electronic Travel Authorisation System (eTAS) on September 1, 2025, requiring holders of foreign passports to obtain travel authorization before entering the country.
The two ministers acknowledged that efficient migration management and improved consular cooperation are essential to enhancing trade, tourism, investment and people-to-people relations between the neighbouring nations.
They also reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties, noting that closer cooperation on migration and border management would contribute to peace, stability and regional integration across the Horn of Africa.
The meeting reflects growing efforts by Nairobi and Mogadishu to resolve cross-border challenges through dialogue while expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade, security and regional development.
As Kenya and Somalia continue to strengthen diplomatic engagement, both governments expressed optimism that enhanced cooperation on migration and consular services will make travel more efficient, improve service delivery and reinforce the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
