Monday, July 4, 2011

Kibaki urges UN security council to help restore peace in Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea

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President Mwai Kibaki is in Ethiopia to attend Africa's heads of state summit. PHOTO: FILE
President Mwai Kibaki is in Ethiopia to attend Africa's heads of state summit. PHOTO: FILE
By JAMES RATEMO, jratemo@ke.nationmedia.co.ke
Posted  Monday, July 4 2011 at 18:17
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Kenya’s President Mwai Kibaki has called for a quick intervention in instability caused by Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan at the horn of Africa.
Mr Kibaki said an early solution by the region's Inter-governmental Authority on Development (Igad) would help mitigate the effects of the serious drought and famine situation in Somalia and stem the outflow of refugees into Kenya.
“This is a matter of serious concern and it is my hope that this Summit will focus some attention on it in view of the need for collective security and sustainable peace,” said President Kibaki on Monday at Addis Ababa Ethiopia during the 18th extra-ordinary Igad summit of heads of state and government.
Mr Kibaki who is also chair of the Igad sub-committee on Sudan called for vigilance on the peace efforts in Sudan and capacity building in Somalia.
“It is my hope that this Summit will outline strategies to enhance the capabilities of the Government in Somalia. This will enable it to achieve the objectives of the transitional tasks within the specified period,” he said.
He commended the continued efforts of Burundi and Uganda to stabilize Somalia despite the very difficult prevailing circumstances as called on the UN Security Council to provide the necessary support for sustainable peace and development in war torn country at the horn of Africa.
“I strongly endorse the recommendations by Executive Council for the relocation of the humanitarian actors to Somalia to consolidate the gains made so far by the T.F.G., AMISOM and the Allied Forces.”
Birth of a new state
Mr Kibaki urged for vigilance in the larger Sudan even as a new state, Southern Sudan, is born in the next five days.
“As the Chair of the IGAD Sub-Committee on the Sudan, I wish to commend the courage and commitment displayed by President Omar Bashir and First Vice President Salva Kiir. Although the CPA ends formally on the 9th July 2011, we are all acutely aware that some key issues are still outstanding.
Therefore, it is crucial that both parties to the agreement continue to engage with each other on all of these issues beyond July,” said Mr Kibaki.
The Kenyan Head of state urged the Summit to ensure that warring parties in Sudan guarantee that dialogue for peace shall continue, aying the future of the two countries is closely linked and interdependent and the stability of the Horn of Africa region is dependent on their cooperation.
“For this reason, achieving sustainable peace in the Sudan is a matter of collective common interest in this region. This is why Kenya is fully committed to remain steadfast in its support to both countries,” said Mr Kibaki.

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