Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia persist due to the MoU signed with Somaliland. Speaking before the parliamentary assembly, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that "Ethiopia does not intend to cause any harm to its friend, Somalia." These statements come after a unified response from the international community in support of Somalia, with the US, China, and the European Union expressing their support for Mogadishu. Despite Addis Ababa's attempt to ease tensions, relations between the parties remain strained, as demonstrated during the African Union General Assembly on February 17th and 18th. The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused Ethiopian security forces of attempting to prevent President Hassan Sheikh from participating in the Assembly's proceedings. This accusation was rejected by the Addis Ababa government, which claimed that the Mogadishu delegation had tried to enter the AU headquarters armed. Hassan Sheikh, who participated in the proceedings as usual, stated that his delegation had been subjected to intimidating behavior due to his government's denunciation of the MoU with Somaliland for access to the port of Berbera. The latest twist in the matter was the Somali parliament's rejection of the agreement's ratification. The Hargeisa parliament rejected the deal, labeling it "illegal" and calling it a "threat to the unity of the people of Somaliland," urging the executive to withdraw the MoU and halt the ratification process. Meanwhile, internal tensions in the country show no signs of abating. The Ethiopian parliament extended the state of emergency in the Amhara region, and the crisis in Tigray has worsened. The Tigrayan population denounces livestock theft and kidnappings conducted by the Eritrean army. The federal government has met with the Tigray regional executive in the context of the humanitarian crisis affecting the northern region. The Tigrayan delegation, led by interim president Getachew Reda, accused Addis Ababa of deliberately ignoring the famine affecting the region, accusations rejected by Addis Ababa, which states that the deaths in Tigray cannot be attributed to a humanitarian crisis.Inizio modulo
The war in Sudan shows no signs of abating. According to reports from the RSF and SAF commands, high-ranking officials from both factions allegedly met in Bahrain three times during January in the presence of representatives from the United States and Saudi Arabia. Details regarding the progress and the subject matter of these meetings have not been disclosed. Meanwhile, the US has imposed new sanctions against the belligerent entities. The US Department of the Treasury has announced sanctions on Alkhaleej Bank and Al-Fakher Advanced Works, both owned by RSF's Hemedti, and Zadna International, associated with the Sudanese regular army. The conflict also continues on the propaganda front. The head of the RSF, General Hemedti, declared that his forces are ready to militarily resolve the conflict in a matter of weeks in an audio message addressed to army generals: "We do not seek war, but as long as it is your choice, you must be prepared." In this context, the de facto leader of the Sudanese government, General Al-Burhan, has blocked humanitarian aid access to areas controlled by the RSF, warning that deliveries will not resume until the RSF is defeated. The month concluded with reports from the SAF on the advancement of their forces in the strategic center of Omdurman, which were denied by the RSF.
Kenya continues to grapple with its financial crisis. President Ruto has announced plans to repurchase a portion of treasury bonds during the February-March period, and then seek coverage for the remaining portion of public debt from private partners in the markets. The government's privatization process is also progressing, with the announcement of the sale of seven state-owned enterprises, including the Development Bank of Kenya. The rest of the companies being put on the market are all in the hospitality sector. Positive data has also emerged regarding the revenues of the Port of Mombasa, which have increased by 6.23% annually, demonstrating how the infrastructure can withstand competition from the Port of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. Meanwhile, Kenyan Secretary of Defense Aden Dualey, during a visit to Washington, declared that Nairobi will continue to stand by the United States in the mission to secure maritime traffic in the Red Sea. Nairobi's decision is influenced not only by its privileged relationship with the USA but also by the risks stemming from the economic implications on maritime transportation costs following Houthi attacks. President William Ruto has been invited by President Biden to the White House to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations in May, coinciding with the sixtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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Head of state | William Ruto |
Head of Government | William Ruto (Since 2013, the president coincides with the head of government) |
Institutional Form | Presidential Republic |
Capital | Nairobi |
Legislative Power | Bicameral Parliament (National Assembly, 350 seats – Senate 68 seats) |
Judicial Power | Supreme Court (7 judges) |
Ambassador to Italy | Frederick Lusambili Matwan'ga |
Total Area kmq | 580.000 km2 |
Land | 569.000 km2 |
Weather | Tropical along the coasts, arid in inland areas |
Natural resources | Limestone, sodium, salt, gemstones, zinc, gypsum, diatomite, hydroelectricity |
Economic summary | Kenya is the main economic, financial and transport hub of East Africa. The main sector remains agriculture, followed by tourism. Despite an average GDP growth of about 5% per year, the Kenyan economy presents some serious problems that limit its development, in particular high levels of unemployment, widespread corruption and lack of infrastructure. Kenya is also often victim of terrorist attacks. |
GDP | $ 110 billion (Dec 2021) |
Pro-capite GDP (Purchasing power parity) | $ 1643 (Dec 2021) |
Exports | $11,5 billion (2019) |
Export partner | Uganda 10%, United States 9%, Netherlands 8%, Pakistan 7%, United Kingdom 6%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Tanzania 5% (2019) |
Imports | $ 10.4 billion (2019) |
Import partner | China 24%, United Arab Emirates 10%, India 10%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Japan 5% (2019) |
Trade With Italy | $234 million (2021) |
Population | 55 million (2022) |
Population Growth | + 2.12% (2022) |
Ethnicities | Kikuyu 17.1%, Luhya 14.3%, Kalenjin 13.4%, Luo 10.7%, Kamba 9.8%, Somali 5.8%, Kisii 5.7%, Mijikenda 5.2% , Meru 4.2%, Maasai 2.5%, Turkana 2.1% |
Languages | English and Kiswahili (official). Various indigenous languages are also spoken |
Religions | Christians 85.5% (mainly Protestants, Catholics and Evangelicals), Muslims 10.9%. |
Urbanization | 29% (2022) |
Literacy | 81,5 % |
Kenya has been an independent state since 1963, after the decolonization of British East Africa. The country is crossed by the equator and is bordered to the north by Ethiopia, to the northwest by South Sudan, to the west by Uganda, to the south by Tanzania and to the east by Somalia. To the southeast it is bordered by the Indian Ocean. Its population is about 55 million and the official languages are Swahili and English.
Kenya has achieved a significant level of political stability and economic development, becoming the economic hub of the region. In addition, the country has played a valuable mediation role in crises in neighbouring countries, such as Somalia, Sudan and, more recently, Ethiopia.
The very complex situation in southern Somalia, where al-Shabaab carries out most of its terrorist activities, is the main source of concern for Kenya, which has been targeted by numerous terrorist attacks since three decades ago. Since 2012, Kenya has been a major contributor to AMISOM, the African Union stabilisation mission in Somalia.
Although still affected by severe poverty, Kenya's economy can be considered the largest and most developed in Eastern and Central Africa. In the past few years, overall trade between Kenya and Italy has been characterised by a high imbalance in favour of the latter. Italian exports to Kenya include: aircraft, industrial machinery, chemicals, food and household appliances. Kenya’s exports to Italy include: rawhide, skins and leather; fruits and vegetables; plants, bulbs and cut flowers. Italy has also heavily invested in the tourism sector.
Relations between Italy and Kenya are very good. The Italian community in Kenya is the second largest in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2006, Italy and Kenya signed a debt conversion agreement, under which several projects have been launched in support of vulnerable populations.