Kenya, Somalia Agree Ops Against Al-shbaab To Continue Until Group Is Subdued

Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his Somalia counterpart, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali

NAIROBI, Nov 1 (BERNAMA-NNN-KBC) — The Kenya and Somalia governments have agreed that the ongoing operations to flush out the Al-Shaabab militia group inside Somalia will continue until the group is completely subdued.
In a joint communique issued after a consultative meeting here on Monday between Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his Somalia counterpart, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, the two countries said they had agreed that the Al Shaabab is a common enemy and a threat to both nations’ security and economy.
The two prime ministers said the Al-Shabaab menace required the efforts from both countries and the international community.
Odinga, allaying fears that Kenya had intentions of carving off parts of Somalia, said: “We have no imperialistic intentions of occupying any part of Somalia.”
The 10-point statement read out by Kenya’s Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Richard Onyonka, to the press explained that Kenya’s security operation inside Somalia was aime at eliminating the threat posed by the Al-Shabaab.
The communique clarified that the incursion was based on the legitimate right to self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
It added that the attack was being led by forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia with support from the Kenyan Defence Force in pursuit of legitimate Al-Shabaab
It spelt out the agreement of the two sides that Al-Shabaab constituted a threat to both Somalia and Kenya and was therefore a common enemy for the entire region and the world.
The two prime ministers said the TFG would seek the assistance of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to institute immediate investigations into crimes against humanity committed by individuals within the Al-Shabaab.
The two also sought for the assistance of the international community to provide logistical and financial support for the blockade of Kismayu port in Somalia until the terror group is removed.
Odinga was categorical that additional troops from the African Union (AU) Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) would be provided to move into liberated areas in South Sudan to help safeguard peace and security there.
He stressed that ” Kenya has no intention of staying in Somalia a day longer than is necessary”.
In line with the agreement, he declared that the Kenya government would not negotiate with the militia.
The Somalia Prime Minister thanked the government and the people of Kenya for the continued support offered to his country for the past 20 years.
“They provided safety and support to millions if Somalis fleeing the civil war that was taking place in my country,” Ali said, adding that “the two countries need a common strategy against a common enemy”.
He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Hussein Arap Ise, Minister for Industry and Commerce Abdisamad Mohamud, and Security Minister General Abdulkadir Dini, among others.
Accompanying Odinga were Defence Minister Yusuf Haji and Chief of Defence Forces General Julius Karangi, among other dignitaries.
The announcement came in the wake of reports attributed to Somalia President Sharif Ahmed who was said to have been opposed to Kenya’s military action in the war-torn country.
Meanwhile, the international community has been urged to move in and offer humanitarian aid to civilians in the liberated parts of Somalia. Odinga said the civilians were in dire need of food, medical supplies and other humanitarian requirements.
He also called on the International Community to help in the reconstruction of Somalia and added that he would be holing a meeting with donors soon to chart the way forward in efforts to bring normalcy to Somalia.
- BERNAMA-NNN-KBC