Kenya and Somalia have agreed to co-operate to improve diplomatic, trade and other mutual ties between them following years of frosty relations.

It follows a meeting of both countries’ foreign ministers in Mogadishu over the weekend.

A joint statement released by the Somali foreign affairs ministry said they agreed to organise a meeting for a joint framework to discuss issues of mutual interest.

The areas include diplomatic relations, trade, education, agriculture, defence and security, tourism among others.

The ministers also welcomed the return of respective ambassadors to Mogadishu and Nairobi.

Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmajo” Mohamed met the Kenyan foreign minister and welcomed the outcome of the talks and expressed his commitment to pursue peace and “good neighbourliness”.

Kenya and Somalia’s relations have been strained in recent years over Kenya’s alleged interference in Mogadishu’s domestic affairs as well over a maritime boundary dispute in the Indian Ocean among other issues.