Operation in Somalia gets UN nod

Kenya’s military operation in Somalia has received crucial 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).

Cause of the war

A statement from the 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.

Kenyan troops crossed into Somalia on October 16 following a series of raids by the militia into the former’s territory.

Two tourists were abducted in luxury resorts in Lamu while aid workers were seized in the Dadaab refugee camp.

The attacks caused a major scare in the crucial tourism industry.

The secretary general reportedly told President Kibaki that he fully understood Kenya’s reason for pursuing Al-Shabaab inside Somalia.

The meeting, which was held at Harambee House , comes only a day after Parliament endorsed a government’s decision to deploy Kenyan troops to Amisom.