Somali PM lauds security partnership with Kenya

By Fauxile Kibet

NAIROBI: Somali Prime Minister Hassan Khaire has applauded Kenya for ‘its an integral role in the fight against Al-Shabaab and ensuring that Somalia achieves security and development’.

Khaire spoke Tuesday in Nairobi where he met Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta to deliver a goodwill and condolence message from President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo following the recent terror attack in Nairobi, which killed 21 people.

The Prime Minister said that Somalia will continue to stand in solidarity with Kenya in stabilizing the region and fighting against violent extremism noting that terror had not damaged links between the two countries but instead strengthened.

Khaire noted about 50,000 Kenyans are working in various sectors of the economy in Somalia and said that his country was on an upward trajectory in development.

“The reconstruction of the country and the ongoing programs in economic development will help us reduce poverty and greatly contribute to our efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism,” Khaire said.

He added that Somalia was keen to maintain the gains made by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and that the Horn of African country was working on a new constitution, getting a new currency as well as building strong security institutions.

“The reconstruction of Somalia has seen our education, health and other community development programs taking off.”

On his part, president Uhuru Kenyatta thanked Somalia’s leadership for their solidarity following the recent attack in Nairobi and said that Kenya was committed to working closely in fighting terrorism.

He said that the fact that Somalia’s development was on an upward trajectory in economically, socially and in its relations with global partners, “is proof that Kenya’s efforts have not gone to waste.”

Meanwhile Foreign Ministers of Kenya and Somalia Tuesday signed agreements under the agreement Second Session of the Kenya-Somalia Joint Commission which aims at bolstering engagements between the two countries in areas such as economy, security and movement of persons.

Monica Juma (Kenya) and her Somali counterpart Ahmed Isse signed the agreement in the border town of Mandera.