Defense Minister: Kenya will destroy security wall along Somalia border

NAIROBI - Kenya's new defense minister Aden Duale insists that the decision by the country to build a physical wall along the border with Somalia was "archaic" and now says the East African nation will explore other realistic and pragmatic ways of handling the security situation within the region.

In 2015, the country chose to build a multi-million dollar physical wall along the Kenya-Somalia border, with an aim of preventing Al-Shabaab militants from crossing over to Kenya. The idea was widely criticized by the option which accused the government of looking for strategies for embezzling funds.

During his interview with Weekly Review, Duale, who is the immediate former Garissa town MP, noted that the existing wall, which he acknowledges that he doesn't know the progress of, will be brought down as the country looks for better ways of dealing with insecurity along the border.

"This is obviously an archaic program. We are now working on a better and sophisticated approach with the Federal Government of Somalia, with the help of other development partners in creating robust border security, also aimed at opening up safe border passage points at Kiunga, Liboi, and Mandera," he said.

"I have no idea about its progress or how long the wall stretches. But I will have to visit Mandera soon to assess the situation," added Mr. Duale, who has also pledged to frequently engage stakeholders on ways of promoting stability in Somalia.

According to him, dealing with security challenges in Somalia would be interdepartmental in approach, adding that he is confident the current Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is " flexible" and would help change the situation. Duale also admits that former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo was his friend.

"We have put the relevant infrastructure on our part and are only waiting for Somalia to do their part. This is going to be an interdepartmental approach involving various ministries of Defence, Interior, and Foreign Affairs. In the end, the program will ensure we have a more comprehensive security approach."

On the presence of the troops in the country, Duale said the country is working closely with African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] on their stay, noting that there is an existing exit plan which would guide the Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] when leaving the country.

"We have no new calendar for our soldiers in Somalia, given that the KDF troops are operating under ATMIS [African Union’s Transition Mission in Somalia] alongside other TCCs [Troop Contributing Countries]," he said. "We will be in that country to restore peace and shall exit from Mogadishu once this is achieved."

"However, there is a drawdown in place already for the exit plan, starting with TCCs which have more troops, such as Uganda. But since the entry of KDF in Somalia, the Al-Shabaab militia has yet to be subdued Our engagement is based on national security and we believe we have registered some achievements as the cases of attacks have scaled down."

The presence of KDF and other forces in Somalia, he said, has also helped to professionalize the SNA [Somali National Army], and build their capacity in dealing with the threat of militia groups. "Which reminds me… what became of the concrete wall the government was building along Kenya and Somalia. "

GAROWE ONLINE