Through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Somalia regretted that Kenya expelled the ambassador without consulting it. MAPSSomalia's response was to Kenya's note verbale on February 8 on maritime zones presented at the Somalia Oil and Gas Conference on February 7, in London, the United Kingdom. The ministry noted that this position reflected its duty to protect its "sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and unity". AUCTION CLAIMSRegarding allegations that it auctioned oil and gas blocks in Kenya’s maritime territorial area that borders it, the Somalia ministry said it was not doing so and that it did not have any such plans. RELATIONSRegarding the two countries' people, Somalia noted that they are "indissolubly interconnected" and that they share strong cultural and historical ties, ties which it noted it did not want broken.

Source: Daily Nation February 17, 2019 17:23 UTC