Minneapolis (SD) – Somalia announced on Tuesday it severed diplomatic ties with Kenya, accusing Nairobi of interfering in its political affairs as Mogadishu prepares for long-awaited elections scheduled for early 2021.

The move came after Kenya hosted the leadership of Somaliland, a breakaway state not recognised by Mogadishu, following months of tensions between the two neighbors.

Somalia said that a meeting of the heads of state of East African nations IGAD had been convened for December 20 in Djibouti to discuss the issue.