Ruto says looking forward to working with Somalia's leadership

NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenya's President-elect William Ruto has expressed concerns about Somalia's difficult process of stabilization, yet another indication that he's fully aware of the challenges he will be facing as the world seeks to bring stability to the Horn of Africa nation, which has been struggling for a long time.

Ruto, who has been serving as Deputy President in President Uhuru Kenyatta's leadership, insisted that it will be difficult to handle the conflict in Somalia, but acknowledged that he has previously worked closely with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The Kenyan president said he's however ready to work with members of the international community to solve the predicaments the country is facing, adding that he will be keen to ensure Somalia takes care of her own security in coming years.

"Somalia is a difficult nut to crack. I have worked with the country's newly elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud before," Ruto said in an interview with CNN, in reference to Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's forest tenure as president between 2012 and 2017.

"We are looking to working forward with him and with the international community so that we can square challenges Somalia is facing, make it possible for Somalia to take care of its own security concerns, " added Ruto, who is set to take the oath of office next Tuesday.

After his victory and subsequent Supreme Court verdict on his election, Somalia's leadership was quick to congratulate him, insisting that Hassan Sheikh will closely work with him. Hassan Sheikh was reelected in May this year after 5 years in the cold having lost to Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed better known as Farmajo.

For the last ten years, the government of Kenya has been working closely with Somalia, following operations to flush Al-Shabaab out of Somalia. The militants still control large swathes of rural central and southern Somalia, with some infiltration in Kenya.

Although Ruto did not say anything about the future of the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] who have been serving in the country for over 10 years. The East African nation has close to 3,500 soldiers in Somalia, who are serving in African Union Transition Mission [ATMIS].

It's projected that ATMIS will exit the country in the next 2 years but the situation could be complicated due to heightened Al-Shabaab attacks in the country. Last year, the United States withdrew its troops from the country but they were redeployed following an increase in Al-Shabaab raids.