Kenya forces working under the framework of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis) will stay in the horn of the African nation still peace is restored, Kenya’s Defense Ministry said.
In an interview with, Nation Africa, Nairobi based paper, Kenyan defence minister Adan Barre Duale said the presence of the KDF and other forces has also helped to professionalize the SNA (Somali National Army) and build their capacity to deal with the threat of militia groups.
“We will be in that country to restore peace and once that is done, we will move out of Mogadishu.
However, there is already a drawdown to the exit plan, starting with the TCC who have more troops like Uganda. But since the KDF’s entry into Somalia, the al-Shabaab militia has yet to be suppressed,” Duale said. “Our engagement is based on national security, and we believe that we have registered some achievements as the number of attacks have come down.”
The minister expressed his government’s readiness to work with Somalia, saying “they have shown us the goodwill of working with the government of President William Ruto and we have embraced them accordingly. As a government.”
“While it is true that on a personal level Farmajo is a friend, I do not support individual leaders, rather I always work with the current government. I also know President Hassan.
We do not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. We deal with them only on the basis of mutual interest and good neighbourliness,” he said.
Duale pledged that his government will support President Hassan and the people of Somalia to bring peace to their country and region.
