[Kelvin Karani, Standard]The presidents of Somalia and Kenya signed a range of deals on Friday, including one to restart trade of the stimulant khat, the countries' foreign ministers said, in a sign of improving diplomatic relations. The two neighbours are together battling an al-Qaida-linked insurgency that has killed thousands of civilians in the last decade. However, their relationship has been turbulent because of a dispute over the ownership of potential offshore oil and gas deposits, some of which United Nation's lie off their disputed maritime border. The presidents agreed to restart flights by Kenya's national carrier Kenya Airways (KQNA.NR) to Mogadishu, resume the khat trade from Kenya to Somalia, ease some visa restrictions, and re-open the border, the statement said. "Somalia is determined to be at peace with itself & the world," Mohamud wrote on Twitter.

Source: Daily Nation July 16, 2022 15:38 UTC