Somali security dominates IGAD Summit in Ethiopia

By PPS

President Uhuru Kenyatta joined other regional leaders for the 48th?Session of the Inter-Governmental Agency for Development (IGAD).?During the session that focused mainly on the Somalia, IGAD Chairman?who is the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said the political and?security tension in Mogadishu and Kismayu cities has distracted the fight?against Al-Shabaab.?

He, however, noted that a delegation from member states visited the two?cities between May 16 and 19th to assess the situation and held?consultations with the leaders of the Federal Somali government and other?stakeholders including AMISOM where they agreed that dialogue  was the?only way out of the Somali problem.?

Common responsibility

Noting that IGAD member states have a common responsibility to bring peace?and stability to the country because the Somali problem affects the entire?region, the chairman noted that it was entirely the responsibility of the?Somali people to bring peace and stability to their country. ?During the meeting the Ethiopian Prime minister said all stakeholders?agreed to support the IGAD initiative and allow the Somali government take?a lead role in pacifying the area.?

IGAD Executive Secretary Engineer Ambassador Mahboub Maalim said in order?to operationalise the national stabilisation plan of the Federal?Government of Somalia, there must be serious dialogue between the?antagonistic parties who ascribe to the supremacy of the Federal Somali?Government and which welcome a lead role for their government. Meanwhile, President Uhuru met and held talks with Brazilian President?Dilma Rousseff on the sidelines of the ongoing AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During the meeting, the two leaders followed up on discussions held during?the 2010 visit to Kenya by former President Lula da Silva regarding?infrastructure development in the country particularly in the road sector.? In this connection, the two leaders agreed to hold further consultations?on the construction of the Eldoret-Nadapal-Juba Road that connects Kenya?to South Sudan, among other projects.?