News somali

Kenyan President and Chairperson of East African Community (EAC) heads of state summit Mwai Kibaki on Wednesday called on the United Nations (UN) Security Council to ‘quickly’ seek ways of stabilizing Somalia.

Kibaki made the call at the 13th ordinary summit of the EAC in the Burundian capital Bujumbura, saying the solution to the stabilization of Somalia is urgent.

Participants include African Union (AU) Commission Chairman Jean Ping, diplomats, development partners, officials from EAC partner states, officials at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and officials of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

‘Instability in Somalia continues to spill over inside Somalia and to neighboring countries.

‘Insecurity in Somalia is an international issue.

‘The UN Security Council should do all its best to stabilize Somalia,’ said President Kibaki.

Kibaki also called on the AU and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) states in the region ‘to involve themselves to restore security and stability in Somalia.’

The Kenyan president and chairperson of the summit commended member states for backing the support of Kenya to Somalia’s transitional government in the combat against Al-Shabaab insurgents.

Kibaki said, ‘We (Kenya) highly appreciate the EAC member states’ support for our pursuit of Al-Shabaab insurgents who make incursions in Kenya.’

Since Oct. 16, Kenya has been pursuing Al-Shabaab insurgents who are held responsible for a string of kidnapping inside Kenya, undermining its pillar industry tourism.

During the summit, the Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza and outgoing chairperson of the EAC summit, handed over the chairmanship to Kenyan President Kibaki.