Uhuru: Kenya backs resettlement of Somali refugees

By PPS

London, United Kingdom: Kenya supports the timely return and resettlement of Somali refugees in their motherland, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.

Noting that the Somali refugees occupy a camp that carries a population larger than the third largest city in Kenya with a larger number of them spread across the country, President Kenyatta said the situation is untenable.

“As a country, we continue to host the largest population of Somalis outside their country,” President Kenyatta said.

He said apart from the humanitarian crisis, the situation continues to pose security threats to Kenya and the region.

The Head of State was speaking Tuesday at Lancaster House in the United Kingdom when he addressed the London Conference on Somalia.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Uhuru and Raila skip Ogolla burial in Siaya
• 
  Firm linked to fake fertiliser calls for arrest of Linturi, NCPB boss
• 
  From Kibaki to Ruto: Scams that hit presidents in their first terms
• 
  Why Kenyatta family remains magnetic amid Mt Kenya rivalry

He therefore, reaffirmed the position taken by the recent IGAD Summit that called on the international community to develop modalities for safe and orderly return and resettlement of Somali refugees with definite time lines.

Acknowledging that securing peace in Somalia is of crucial importance to the return of refugees, the President emphasized the importance of the international community to expand its support to AMISOM as a matter of urgency.

President Uhuru observed that once the Somali refugees return home, they must find an environment that can support their livelihoods.

“In this regard, we urge the international community, in particular the United Nations, the World Bank and the African Development Bank, to work in concert to help create this environment,” President Uhuru said.

Reaffirming his Government’s support for a secure and stable Somalia, the President said the London Conference marks the beginning of a new partnership between Somalia and its neighbours and friends.

The President pointed out that since he took office, just four weeks ago, he has held discussions with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia twice with the aim of advancing shared goals.

“In particular, I invited President Hassan to Mombasa during which we agreed on a number of important steps that will safeguard our common interest during the post conflict, peace-building and stabilization process,” President Kenyatta said.

The President informed the conference that recently the Heads of State and Government of IGAD met in Addis Ababa where they welcomed the Somali Federal Government’s National Stabilization Plan.

President Uhuru added that the Addis Ababa summit agreed on specific principles on which all processes, including the ongoing efforts to set up regional administrations and stabilization efforts, will be anchored.

In this regard, the President called on the international community to support the efforts being undertaken by IGAD.

“The successful conclusion of the Transition Roadmap in August last year and the liberation of large territory from the control of Al Shabaab have widened a window of opportunity for lasting peace in Somalia.  Somalia is on course, now more than ever, to lasting peace,” the President said.

Underlining the importance of security to any stabilization process, the President said the political, economic recovery and development, and humanitarian programmes will not be viable without security.