Somalia: UN, Kenya discuss situation in Somalia

NAIROBI, Kenya - The new U.N special representative for Somalia, Nicholas Haysom held meeting with Kenya's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Monica Juma in Nairobi on Monday, Garowe Online reports.

Haysom, who is also the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia [UNSOM], and Juma discussed the political standoff between Federal Government and member states and security in Somalia.

In addition, the meeting touched on the African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] which both sides highlighted to be vital for the efforts to fight against the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab Islamist group.

They called on the UN security council to provide force enablers and multipliers to facilitate AMISON operations as the AU forces are preparing to hand over security responsibility to Somali National Army [SNA] in 2020.

Kenya is one of the troop-contributing countries to AU mission in Somalia and sent combat forces to the neighboring nation in 2011 to fight Al-Shabaab following series of kidnappings and attacks in its soil.

The AU soldiers serving under AMISOM have been deployed into Somalia 2007 to defend the fragile UN-backed Government and help in the war on Al-Shabaab, which is a potent threat to the region's security.

AMISOM which is made up of 22,000 soldiers are protecting top leaders and key government buildings, including the Presidential Palace, Parliament, Aden Adde International Airport and Mogadishu port.

GAROWE ONLINE