Wednesday October 23, 2024
Nairobi (HOL) — Kenyan President William Ruto and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday welcomed the establishment of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), set to replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in January 2025.
President Mohamud visited Kenya from October 21st to 22nd as part of a regional tour to countries contributing troops to ATMIS. The two leaders discussed the security situation in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region, emphasizing the need for peace, stability, and respect for territorial sovereignty.
They underscored that the new mission, expected to deploy around 11,000 troops, should be adequately funded. They discussed the need for AUSSOM to focus on securing urban areas and key infrastructure while Somali forces take the lead in national security efforts.
During their talks, Ruto and Mohamud stressed the need to support the Somali Security Forces (SSF) and the Somali Security Development Plan to ensure stability post-ATMIS. The leaders urged the international community to assist in building Somalia's security capabilities.
Kenya reaffirmed its support for Somalia, with Ruto congratulating Mohamud on Somalia's election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2025-2026. Both presidents also highlighted the strong bilateral ties between their countries under the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) framework. They agreed to work towards resolving barriers to trade and deepening economic relations, leveraging regional frameworks such as the East African Community (EAC), which Somalia recently joined.
The Heads of State reiterated the need to leverage regional frameworks such as the EAC, COMESA, and IGAD to enhance economic cooperation and integration. They acknowledged that the East African Community's integration process had expanded with Somalia's admission, marking a new chapter for regional integration and providing a platform for increased trade cooperation.
President Mohamud's visit to Kenya followed similar discussions in Uganda, Burundi, and Djibouti, focusing on the ATMIS transition and future security cooperation.