The leaders of Somalia and Kenya who meet at the sideline of the historic IGAD head of states meeting in Mogadishu have agreed to lift ban on khat trade.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta who had brief meeting after the IGAD summit said the two neighboring states will work towards improving trade and economic ties.
Somalia has agreed to lift ban on Mount Kenyan grown stimulant plant in exchange of direct flights from Mogadishu to Nairobi without transit in Wajir, ease of visa restrictions on Somali nationals and access of Somali banking, finance industry into Kenyan market and vice versa.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has confirmed to the press that the agreements will be implemented soon by technical committee composed of government officials from both neighboring states.
In communiqué read to the press by the Kenyan foreign minister ambassador Amina Mohamed also reaffirmed strong support for the territorial integrity and unity of Somalia.
Foreign policy analysts say the move to use khat as negotiation power was a perfect strike by Somali foreign ministry.
By Hassan Istiila
