Kenya: Kenyan FM says Al Shabaab's intensified attacks require unified international response

22 Septembre 2017

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 22 (Infosplusgabon) - Kenyan foreign minister Amina Mohamed says the intensified spate of terror attacks against targets in Somalia require a unified international response, which includes international aid to assist the Somali government.

The Kenyan foreign minister told a high level session on the conflict in Somalia at the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York, US, the international collaboration to deal with the situation in Somalia had been intensified under the London Conference on Somalia.

The London Conference on Somalia held its meeting this year where a resolution on the pending withdrawal of the continental force, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) from Somalia, beginning 2018 was to be based on conditions on the ground.

“Security remains the single most important factor in Somalia’s political and economic aspirations. The situation remains precarious as the Al Shabaab terror group appears to have invigorated their heinous acts of terror, threatening a rollback of the gains that have been made,” the Kenyan foreign ministry said in a statement Friday.

The Kenyan foreign minister said Nairobi supports other regional and international initiatives on Somalia, aiming to restore peace and stability.

The  London Conference, at its third edition in May 2017, endorsed a New Partnership for Somalia.

The Conference expressed support for a condition-based transition from AMISOM to Somali security forces, starting in late 2018 with clear target dates linked to the security sector reform that Somalia in the undertaking, Mohamed said.

The foreign minister said Kenya remains faithful to the People of Somalia and would continue to work closely with the Federal Government, the region and the international community in getting Somalia out of the shadows of conflict.

Kenya is committed to the stabilisation of Somalia and is galvanising support from development partners to support the Horn of Africa country that has experienced more than two decades, the ministry said.

The High-Level Meeting was attended by senior officials and diplomats from the United Kingdom, Ethiopia and Italy.

“In spite of the many challenges that Somalia still faces, remarkable positive developments have been witnessed in almost every sector, placing it on course towards socio-economic and political transformation,” Mohamed said.

Despite the challenges, Mogadishu is opening up for business and investors are moving beyond speculation to establish their presence there.

According to the ministry, the successful conclusion of the 2016/2017 electoral process that led to the assumption of office by President Mohamed Abdullahi in a peaceful transition set Somalia on a path towards improved governance and political stability.

Kenya has made commitments including the establishment of more border posts to ease the movement of people; resumption of direct air services between Mogadishu and Nairobi; and training on behalf of the Government of Somalia, an agreed number of teachers, nurses and administrators.

“We believe that these modest capacity building assistance programmes will facilitate the expansion and extension of critical public services by the Government to the population,” said Amina.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/AER/GABON 2017

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