Saturday September 7, 2024
Beijing (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with Kenyan President William Ruto on Thursday during the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing, focusing on shared challenges and regional cooperation.
The leaders discussed the ongoing threat of terrorism in the region, with President Mohamud highlighting Somalia's efforts to combat extremist groups, particularly al-Shabab, and the successes achieved with the support of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
President Ruto reaffirmed Kenya's commitment to regional security initiatives, emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation for long-term peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.
Both leaders also addressed the pressing climate-related challenges, which have worsened food insecurity, displacement, and resource-based conflicts in East Africa. They discussed strategies for enhancing climate resilience and sustainable development to tackle these challenges more effectively.
They emphasized the need to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the Horn of Africa, amid Somalia accused Ethiopia of violating its sovereignty after signing an MoU with Somaliland.
Kenya is among the key troop-contributing countries to ATMIS, which is expected to withdraw from Somalia by December 2024. However, Kenyan forces, along with those from Uganda, will remain part of the new African Union mission that will replace ATMIS, continuing their role in stabilizing Somalia.