Kenya seeks UK support in Somalia militia fight

Kenya has formally reached out to Britain for “support” in fighting Somalia’s al Shabaab militia and restoring peace in the war-torn country.

Internal Security minister George Saitoti asked the British Minister of African Affairs, Mr Henry Bellingham, to help Kenya stop the terrorist activities of the militia linked to the global terrorist network, Al-Qaeda.

“We’ve no choice (but to seek your support), because that’s a very big problem,” Prof Saitoti said at his Harambee House office Thursday.

“The problem in Somalia should not be viewed narrowly as a regional problem; it is an international problem.”

The call for international intervention came just a day after Kenya beefed up security along its border with Somalia following intense fighting between al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam (another militia). Kenya has been trying to create a 'buffer zone’ inside Somalia so that the fighting doesn’t spill over into its territory.

The British minister said he was “delighted” that the African Union had decided to send more troops to Somalia to help the Transition Federal Government stop the attacks from the al Shabaab gangs.

“What came out of the AU summit is a great step forward, but there’s still a long way to go,” said Mr Bellingham, who attended the AU summit in Kampala, Uganda.

“Al Shabaab is a threat to all other countries including the UK (United Kingdom)”, he said.

He said that the key issue was for more African countries to send troops to Somalia and then follow up to ensure that they were “properly equipped” in keeping the terror militia at bay.

The British minister said he was “optimistic” that the AU deal in Kampala will be more effective. He said the UK was willing to work with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), Kenya, and the AU to bring stability to the Horn of Africa.

The region has suffered from the two-decade fighting in Somalia, not only due to the influx of refugees, but also the proliferation of small arms that have in turn given rise to increased crime rates.

There’s also the threat to international trade from the ransom-seeking pirates operating in the high seas off the coast of Somalia deep in the Indian Ocean.

Mr Bellingham said that even as the AU went for a military solution, it should work with the TFG to ensure there is a “political settlement” so that the conflict does not continue.

At the same time, Prof Saitoti said the fighting in Moyale was under control as security had been beefed up in the area. He said the attacks by the Oromo Liberation Front or “any other bandits” ought not worry Kenyans because the security forces were on the ground to ensure that all outlaws are run out of town.

Prof Saitoti also sought UK's intervention on police reforms, which he said will have to be expedited if Kenyans endorse the proposed Constitution in next week’s referendum.

“The police reform is bulky. We are not in a position to source all the resources locally,” he told his UK counterpart. The UK agreed to train Kenya’s police.

The Internal Security minister said the security in the country was beefed up to “guarantee safety” to all voters who will take part in the referendum process.

He said there will be no repeat of the 2007 post-poll violence given the heightened security in the hotspots all over the country.

“The referendum will be conducted safely. We’ll follow-up on those issuing threats to ensure that what happened in the last elections does not recur,” he said.