Kenyan soldiers fighting Al-Shabaab militants have now become part of the United Nations-sponsored African Mission in Somalia.
It follows the unanimous vote in Parliament on Wednesday authorising the Kenya Defence Forces currently in Somalia to serve under the African Union Mission in Somalia.
Kenya is joining the force at the invitation of the African Union.
By passing the motion, MPs removed the last hurdle, which gave the conversion of the mission from a purely Kenyan affair to a UN/AU sponsored one after the Cabinet last week approved the move.
By sending troops to Somalia, Kenya provided perhaps one of the best chances of peace in Somalia in recent times.
It has created the conditions for military victory over Al-Shabaab, now being fought on three fronts, with the prospect of giving the Transitional Federal Government the room it needs to take charge of more of the lawless country.
As a purely Kenyan affair, Operation Linda Nchi was paid for solely by the Kenyan taxpayer and risks being seen as an occupation force.
As part of the AU peacekeeping mission, Kenya will still achieve the objective of ridding Somalia of Al-Shabaab without the risk of being perceived as occupying a neighbouring country.
The AU also pays for the mission.
On Wednesday, even as they passed the motion, MPs cautioned against the risk of Kenya being caught up in an endless war in Somalia. Read more here.
In a related news, Kenya’s military operation in Somalia has received backing from the United Nations.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said the war against Al-Shabaab militia was necessary to restore peace and stability in the war-torn country and the region. In a meeting with President Kibaki on Thursday, the UN boss welcomed Kenya’s decision to offer its troops to the African Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom).
A statement from the [Kenyan] Presidential Press service (PPS) said that Mr Ban welcomed Kenya’s leadership role in efforts to stabilise Somalia.
He assured the government that the UN would fully back the military operation.
President Kibaki asked the UN to take a more pro-active role in Somalia.
He updated Mr Ban on steps that the Kenya Defence Forces were taking to restore order and provide humanitarian assistance in areas liberated from Al-Shabaab.
And in what appeared to be a veiled rebuttal to the militants’ claims that Kenya wants to occupy the chaotic country, the president explained that Kenya was only interested in a peaceful Somalia.
“Kenya and the TFG are conducting joint security operations in the south and central parts Somalia to stamp out threats posed by Al-Shaabab to Kenya’s economic and national interests,” said the statement.
He said that the Kenyan military had secured most parts of southern Somalia previously controlled by the rebels.
Source: Nationa.com.ke
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