Kenya has called on the European Union (EU) to put the fight against terrorism in Somalia back on its priority list.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi made the appeal during a meeting with Cyprus Foreign Minister Dr. Constantinos Kombos on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
The two countries also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in agriculture and livestock development.
Fading Global Support
Mudavadi warned that international attention on Somalia is fading as conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific dominate the global agenda.
“The international community’s support has depreciated significantly, and countries like Kenya have been left to carry the heavy load in this fight,” he said.
Kenya currently maintains around 3,000 troops in Somalia under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
Mudavadi cautioned that any Kenyan withdrawal could create a dangerous security vacuum, undoing years of progress against Al Shabaab.
AU Stretched Thin
The Prime Cabinet Secretary stressed that the African Union is already overwhelmed with crises in Sudan, South Sudan, the Sahel, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“The AU is stretched thin. Without renewed international commitment, particularly from key partners like the EU, the gains made in Somalia risk being undone,” he noted.
Cyprus Role in 2026
Cyprus is set to assume the Presidency of the Council of the EU in early 2026. The Council plays a critical role in coordinating the bloc’s foreign and security policy.
Mudavadi urged Cyprus to use this position to ensure that Somalia and the war against Al Shabaab remain on the EU’s agenda.
“It will be sad that a country that has made progress in combating terrorism, and is on the last mile, might relapse if not assisted,” he warned.
Kenya’s appeal is part of a broader diplomatic push to revive global focus on counterterrorism efforts in the Horn of Africa.
