NAIROBI, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Kenya said Monday it will reopen its embassy in Mogadishu as soon as possible as Nairobi welcomed the invitation by Mogadishu to fully restore diplomatic missions between the two neighboring countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited Somali ambassador to Kenya to return to Nairobi and resume his duties.

"The Kenyan government will proceed to reopen its embassy in Mogadishu as soon as possible," the ministry said in a statement.

The move came after Kenya on June 10 lifted its ban on flights to and from Somalia after a nearly one-month ban amid a diplomatic spat between the two countries.

Somalia later welcomed the resumption of flights and reiterated its commitment to restore and accelerate diplomatic, trade, and people-to-people relations for the prosperity of Somalia and Kenya.

Somalia in December 2020 severed its diplomatic ties with neighboring Kenya, accusing Nairobi of frequently violating Mogadishu's sovereignty which the latter denied. Mogadishu restored diplomatic relations with Nairobi on May 5 with mediation by Qatar. - Xinhua