Why Somalia will tolerate KDF for a little longer

KDF crossed into Somalia on the night of October 16, 2011. [File Photo]

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A few months ago, the federal government of Somalia raised serious concerns about the presence of the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] in Somalia, despite the fact that the force was incorporated in AMISOM, which is an African Union force promoting peace in Somalia.

For months, Somalia claimed issues of KDF waging airstrikes in Gedo which allegedly claimed the lives of civilians. In a statement, FGS openly said: "For Kenya Defense Forces to carry any airstrike, they must first consult us. That is the bare minimum."

Also, FGS had issues with KDF's alleged association with Jubaland Security Forces [JSF] which have been at loggerheads with the Somali National Army [SNA] for a couple of years. KDF has often denied the claims.

But it after all seems Somalia will have to tolerate KDF for a little longer following the recent changes in Kenyan forces which were engineered by President Uhuru Kenyatta. In a previous interview in Paris, Uhuru was quoted saying "we shall not leave until Somalia is stable".

In the Kenya Army promotions done by Uhury, Major-General Albert Kendagor was promoted to lieutenant-general and appointed Force Commander designate of the African Union Mission to Somalia [Amisom]. He was serving as Kenya Army Deputy Commander.

This means Lt. General Albert Kendagor will be the incoming AMISOM Force Commander upon the exit of Lt. General Diomede Ndegeya, who took over the role in January 2021. The Burundian is expected to leave Somalia in January 2022.

After assuming the responsibilities, Kendagor will serve a period of one year which will expire on January 2023. Initially, AMISOM had projected the exit of forces from Somalia by the end of 2021 upon full implementation of the Somali Transition Plan [STP].

In fact, a recent report from an independent team picked by AMISOM gave a raft of recommendations, and certainly, there was no indication of exit. The team wants the force to be reorganized and stay a little longer until Somalia is stable.

KDF has close to 3,500 soldiers in Somalia, mainly serving in Sectors II and VI of AMISOM jurisdiction. Recently, KDF Chief General Robert Kibochi also gave an indication that the force will stay in Somalia a little longer in an interview with state media.

“We cannot be in Somalia forever. Just like the USA which has left Afghanistan after a long war with militants, we will also leave when our objective is achieved,” he said.

But even with an anticipated longer stay in Somalia, Gen. Kibochi said Kenyan troops have already had a huge impact in Somalia by opening up 14 major areas initially under al Shabaab control.

“We have opened up roads, hospitals, and made towns bustling. Kismayu, Dobley, and other towns are now bustling. We have degraded al Shabaab in a major way,” he said.

The defense chief said unlike between 2011 and 2012 when dozens of grenades and other weapons were being smuggled from Somalia, the trend had significantly dropped.

He said Kenya and other countries are pushing to have Amisom funded by the UN. This is because one of the main donors, the European Union, has stopped supporting the mission.

This has necessitated a reconfiguration of the operations of the mission which is likely to be done during the coming UN Security Council meeting in October 2021.

“Assessment is being done on what is needed to be done. African Union finished the exercise and we hope an announcement will be made in October,” he said.

GAROWE ONLINE