An Accurate Depiction of Somalia Emerged from Kenya President’s Remarks During His State Visit to US
Kenyan President William Ruto warned of the dire repercussions should the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) remove its troops during his recent visit to the United States. He underlined that Al-Shabaab will probably seize control of Somalia in the event of an ATMIS pullout.
Kenya is supporting efforts to address security concerns in the Horn of Africa today. President Ruto said, “I met with the president of Somalia before coming here on Saturday, and we have major security challenges because there is an upcoming drawdown of ATMIS that is calendar-based, not conditions-based.”
In order to avoid a security void, he pleaded with the US to step in. “We believe that if the United States doesn’t intervene and alter the course, terrorists will gain control of Somalia and we will withdraw ATMIS forces. I don’t believe that is in the best interests of anyone.
Kenya is fighting Islamist insurgents in Somalia with thousands of ATMIS and non-ATMIS troops. There is concern that an impulsive pullout of ATMIS peacekeepers may tilt the scales in favor of Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda group that not only conducts operations in Somalia but also continues to operate in portions of Kenya.
Along with highlighting ongoing initiatives, President Ruto talked on regional security concerns. “We are addressing the situation in Sudan and including other political actors as well as civil society. We talked about problems in South Sudan last week,” he said.
The remarks made by President Ruto highlight how important foreign assistance is to preserving stability in Somalia and the surrounding area.