Somalia cabinet approves defence pact with Kenya

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's cabinet approved a defence pact with Kenya on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in the country's security approach, given that the East African nation plays a major role in the stabilisation process, which has taken over three decades.

Early this month, the two nations signed the defence cooperation, cementing their ties, with Somalia terming it 'historic'. The government of Kenya has traditionally worked with Somalia throughout the stabilisation mission.

The office of Prime Minister Hamsa Abdi Barre revealed that the cabinet prioritised the defence pact at the time Somalia was going through transition. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) contingent has started leaving the country.

Kenya's Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi and his Somalia counterpart Ahmed Fiqi signed the deal in Nairobi during the third session of the Kenya-Somalia Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC). Kenya is a major security and development partner of Somalia.

The ratification of the agreement adds to other pacts Somalia has entered with several countries including Turkey, Ethiopia and the UAE in recent months. Turkey had pledged to protect Somalia's coastline after the MoU between Ethiopia and the Somaliland region.

Also signed today was the agreement on promotion and protection of Somalia’s investment with the United Arab Emirates. Further, the Cabinet approved the National Higher Education Bill, the Government Policy for Somali Teachers and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, state media reports.

The Kenya Defence Forces have close to 3,500 servicemen and women in Somalia who have been instrumental in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants. The KDF is credited for the stabilisation of Jubaland state, liberating several strategic towns in the process.

GAROWE ONLINE