NAIROBI, Kenya — Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has reaffirmed Kenya’s unwavering commitment to a peaceful and stable Somalia, saying the country’s security is directly tied to that of its neighbor.
Speaking in Uganda after a high-stakes regional summit, Kindiki made it clear: Kenya is all in when it comes to supporting the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
From the look of things, East Africa is ramping up its fight against al Shabaab—and everyone from Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni to Somalia’s Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is paying attention.
Kenya’s High-Stakes Stake in Somalia
For Deputy President Kindiki, Somalia’s peace isn’t just a foreign policy talking point—it’s a national security imperative.
“A stable, secure Somalia has direct consequences on peace and security for Kenya and Eastern Africa,” he told the summit in Entebbe, where leaders of troop-contributing nations gathered to strategize on the future of AUSSOM.
Kindiki stressed that Kenya would remain a pillar in the regional effort to crush extremist groups like al Shabaab, noting that the fight isn’t just Somalia’s—it’s the region’s. And given the persistent threat of cross-border terror, that’s more than just diplomatic niceties.
The summit came at a critical time for AUSSOM, which replaced the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) last year and is now staring down logistical challenges and underfunding even as militants continue to exploit security gaps.
Leaders Call for More Troops, More Funds
Here’s the rub: while the vision is clear, the resources are not. At the summit, the leaders didn’t mince words—they need more boots on the ground and more cash to back them.
Specifically, a call was made to increase troop levels by at least 8,000 to keep hard-won gains from slipping away.
A joint communique issued after the talks echoed that urgency, stating, “The Summit stressed the urgent need to consider deploying bilateral troops to augment AUSSOM and the Somali Security Forces (SSF),” adding that the African Union Commission (AUC) must mobilize financial support, including tapping into the African Union Peace Fund.
Operational shortfalls, according to leaders, threaten to undo years of progress—and that’s something East Africa cannot afford.
Beyond Borders: Why Somalia’s Stability Matters
This wasn’t just a bureaucratic gathering. Heavyweights like Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Djibouti’s PM Abdoulkadir Kamil Mohamed, and Ethiopia’s Defence Minister Aisha Mohammed Mussa joined in, underlining how Somalia’s future is tethered to the region’s prosperity.
For Kenya, a country with its own history of terrorist attacks linked to Somalia-based groups, staying engaged isn’t optional—it’s survival.
“Kenya remains committed to the ideals of a peaceful Somalia and will do its part to ensure success of AUSSOM and the disruption of terrorist support networks in the region,” Kindiki said.
The Fight for Somalia’s Peace Is Everyone’s Business
The Entebbe summit made one thing crystal clear: this is a shared fight. Kenya, along with its regional allies, isn’t pulling any punches.
With leaders calling for troop surges and urgent funding, the clock is ticking on AUSSOM’s next phase. Whether the African Union—and the international community—steps up to match that commitment remains to be seen.
But for now, Kenya’s message is loud and clear: when Somalia wins, so does the region.
