Somalia: We no longer have confidence in KDF to support AMISOM

The Somali government says it no longer has confidence in the KDF as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), saying its neighbour cannot be a force for peace and a source of chaos at the same time.

“The Federal Government of Somalia has lost its confidence in the KDF’s ability to support the effort to stabilize and bring about long-term peace and security given the overt manner that the government of Kenya has sought to exploit its presence in the country as a pretext to further national interests. To put it simply, the KDF cannot both support stability and be an instigator of insecurity in Somalia”.

Relations between Somalia and Kenya are at a historic low. It took a nosedive this week after intense fighting in a Somali town near the Kenyan border between Somali forces and Jubaland forces loyal to Abdirashid Janan on Monday. Somalia’s federal government has accused Kenya of arming and funding the rebels before allowing them to cross into the Somali town of Beled Hawo and launching an attack.

Somalia severed diplomatic ties with Kenya in mid-December, accusing its neighbour of meddling in its internal affairs. Mogadishu believes that Kenya is pressuring Jubaland’s regional President to boycott the election process.

The statement added that Somalia would defend its borders and not allow Kenya to destabilize the Federal Member States. It also called on IGAD to rescind the report it published this week.

“The Federal Government will continue to exercise considerable restraint, call on IGAD to rescind this frivolous report and to commission on a multinational fact-finding mission. The Federal Republic of Somalia reserves the right to seek redress through diplomatic means via the African Union and, if necessary, the United Nations Security Council.”

The IGAD report authored by Djibouti diplomats largely exonerated Kenya and said Somalia’s accusations were “false, malicious, and with no weight to justify severing diplomatic relations.”

This week, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Defence Monica Juma said that Kenya would not withdraw KDF troops from Somalia until the decision is ratified by a resolution and the N Security Council.