The Kenyan government has identified the need for international support to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts in Somalia, with particular focus on the urgent need to fill the gaps left by some African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) led by its Chief of Staff, General Charles Kahariri, met this week with the former Commander of the US Africa Command (US AFRICOM), General Michael Langley, to share Kenya’s concerns over the security situation in Somalia.
A KDF statement said General Kahariri expressed deep concern over the reduction in the number of African troops in Somalia, warning that this could jeopardize the progress made towards stability in the country.
He called on the international community to renew its support for the Somali peace process and efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa.
To mitigate the risks posed by the troop withdrawal, Kahariri said countries including Kenya have entered into bilateral security agreements with Somalia.
However, he stressed that these agreements cannot be sustainable without strong international support.
Kenya has been vocal about the need for international cooperation to maintain regional security, with a focus on Somalia as the epicenter of the terrorist threat in the Horn of Africa.
