Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has reaffirmed Kenya’s unwavering commitment to the ideals of a peaceful and stable Somalia, emphasizing the critical role Somalia’s stability plays in ensuring security across Eastern Africa.
Speaking after attending the Extraordinary Summit of troop-contributing countries to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) held in Entebbe, Uganda, Kindiki stressed Kenya’s readiness to continue supporting efforts to defeat al Shabaab and other violent extremist groups.
“Kenya remains committed to the ideals of a peaceful Somalia and will do its part to ensure the success of AUSSOM and the disruption of terrorist support networks in the region. A stable, secure Somalia has direct consequences on peace and security for Kenya and Eastern Africa,” he said.
The summit, hosted by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, brought together key regional leaders including Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Djibouti’s Prime Minister Abdoulkadir Kamil Mohamed, Egypt’s Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, and Ethiopia’s Minister of Defence Aisha Mohammed Mussa. Ministers and senior officials from other troop-contributing countries also attended.
A key outcome of the summit was the joint recognition of the urgent need for sustainable and adequate funding to support AUSSOM operations. In their communique, the leaders called on the African Union Commission (AUC) to mobilize resources to address operational shortfalls and enhance the mission’s effectiveness.
The summit also emphasized the need to boost troop numbers by at least 8,000 to cope with the current security situation in Somalia, ensuring that hard-won gains in the stabilization efforts are not reversed. The leaders stressed the importance of considering the deployment of additional bilateral troops to bolster AUSSOM and Somalia’s security forces (SSF).
As regional efforts intensify, Kenya’s steadfast commitment underlines the country’s pivotal role in promoting regional stability, peace, and the fight against terrorism. The success of AUSSOM, the leaders agreed, will be critical not only for Somalia but for the broader peace and security of Eastern Africa.
