Somali President Sheikh Ahmed Sharif arrived in Kenya on Sunday and is scheduled to hold talks with President Kibaki on Monday.
President Ahmed is in the country for a two-day state visit which is expected to discuss security issues, training of the Somali police force and border guards. The Somali President said he was in the country to re-establish relations with Kenya and seek bilateral support.
He said: “I will do everything within my powers to restore stability and ensure we get regional support.”
The influx of refugees in the country and the stability of Somali in terms of its effect to the Great Lakes region and the IGAD member countries will also be discussed.
Before receiving the President at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Foreign Affairs Moses Wetang’ula dismissed claims that Kenya is under the threat of Somali Islamists but insisted that security was available to deal with any kind of threat which Kenya has consistently maintained.
Mr Wetang’ula said the Kenyan border with Somalia would be kept secure especially after the Al-Shaabab group which is linked to the Al-Qaeda raided Kenya and kidnapped two nuns in Mandera in 2008.
He was responding to remarks by Sheikh Hassan Yakoub Ali, the spokesman of the coalition of Islamists controlling the Juba regions in Southern Somalia, who said his group was ready to defend itself against Kenya.
Sheikh Yakoub told the Islamists controlling Kismayu and other territories in the Lower and Middle Juba regions that they would deal with any threat from Kenya.
“Kenya wants to invade us and we are ready to defend our land,” said Sheikh Yakoub.
In February, Internal Security Minister George Saitoti warned the militia to release two Italian nuns or else Kenya would forcefully enter Somalia to rescue them. However, the nuns were released after the Italian Government negotiated with the militia.
Mr Wetang’ula also said the new relationships Kenya is forging with several countries in the Middle East to expand the frontier for new opportunity such as the oil business.
A big delegation from Mogadishu including ministers for Foreign Affairs and Security as well as religious elders were at the airport to welcome their President.
The minister said that the recent visit by Iranian President raised several issues including oil importation but denied media reports that Kenya rejected oil from the country worth Sh150 billion.
The minister said the Iranian government made it clear their oil cannot be sold at discounted rates but agreed to give Kenya a credit programme that allows payment after 90 days. He said the entire oil used in Kenya is worth Sh100 billion and a single country cannot surpass that margin which is shared by many other trade partners.
Mr Wetang’ula also disputed claims by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that genocide fugitive Felicien Kabuga was still in Kenya.
Mr Wetang’ula said claims by Justice Jillow, that Kenya was not able to arrest or describe the whereabouts of Mr Kabuga is totally untrue.
He said ICTR has not been able to perform or prove anything and explained that such statements are always made when they (ICTR) want their tenure extended.
“This statements from Justice Jillow using Kenya as an excuse to have their tenure extended cannot be allowed and I caution him to tread carefully about making such statements,” the minister added.
Source: Daily Nation
No comments:
Post a Comment