Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to the ongoing peace operations in Somalia, even as the current mandate of the United Nations-backed African Union mission comes to an end.
The country is among several African nations that have deployed troops to support the regional initiative aimed at bringing stability to Somalia and fighting the Al Shabaab militant group.
During a high-level summit held in Kampala, Uganda on Friday, President William Ruto represented Kenya alongside other heads of state and government of troop-contributing countries.
The meeting, which was convened by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, brought together leaders who are directly involved in the Somalia peace support operations.
The discussions at the summit centered on what comes next after the current mission mandate expires.
Leaders recognized that there is need to put in place new arrangements that will allow the mission to continue its important work of fighting Al Shabaab and building up the Somali security forces.
The focus is on ensuring that Somalia can achieve lasting peace, security, and stability without relying entirely on foreign military support.
The participating countries have committed to exploring fresh ways of mobilizing resources to keep the mission running.
This includes identifying new funding mechanisms and exploring partnerships that can sustain the operations over the long term.
The leaders also agreed that Africa must remain engaged in Somalia's journey towards peace and prosperity, rather than abandoning the country to its own struggles.
Kenya's participation in this summit shows the country's determination to play an active role in regional security matters. The mission in Somalia is important not only for Somalia's future, but also for Kenya's own national security, given that the two countries share a border and Kenya has also been affected by insecurity linked to Al Shabaab activities.
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