Nairobi (SONNA) – The Director General of Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Mr. Mustafa Dhuhulow, accompanied by Somali Ambassador to Kenya Mr. Jibriil Ibrahim Abdulle, held a high-level meeting with Kenyan officials in Nairobi to enhance bilateral cooperation on immigration matters. The Somali delegation met with Kenya’s Director General of Immigration Services Ms. Evelyn Cheluget and Secretary for Internal Security Mr. Thomas Saka to discuss critical issues affecting citizens of both countries.
During the productive discussions, Director General Dhuhulow expressed appreciation for Kenya’s hospitality and emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration in several key areas. The talks focused on improving visa processing systems to facilitate smoother travel for Somali citizens visiting Kenya, with both sides recognizing the need for more efficient procedures. Security cooperation featured prominently in the agenda, particularly regarding enhanced border management strategies to prevent illegal crossings while maintaining legitimate movement of people. The officials also explored opportunities for implementing modern digital migration systems and establishing mechanisms for secure data exchange between the two nations’ immigration departments.
Kenyan Immigration Director General Cheluget reaffirmed her country’s commitment to deepening partnership with Somalia, highlighting the shared history and mutual benefits of closer immigration cooperation. The meeting produced concrete agreements to establish joint technical teams that will work on implementing the proposed digital systems and procedural improvements. Both delegations agreed to maintain regular follow-up consultations to monitor progress on the initiatives discussed.
This high-level engagement represents a significant step forward in Somalia-Kenya relations, building on recent diplomatic efforts to foster regional stability and economic integration. The outcomes are expected to benefit thousands of travelers and businesses that rely on cross-border movement while maintaining robust security standards. The discussions also set the stage for future collaboration on broader migration management challenges facing the East African region. Officials from both countries expressed optimism that the agreed measures will significantly improve service delivery for citizens while strengthening the capacity of immigration authorities to combat transnational threats.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to schedule follow-up technical discussions and maintain open channels of communication between the respective immigration agencies. This ongoing dialogue reflects the growing strategic partnership between Somalia and Kenya in addressing complex migration issues and promoting people-to-people ties across the region.
