Uhuru Kenyatta: Let us boost Amisom

President Uhuru Kenyatta with United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May in London. (Photo: PSCU)

Deployment of more regional peacekeeping troops and repatriation of refugees are critical to stabilising war-torn Somalia, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Thursday.

President Kenyatta called for an increase in the number of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops to put the Horn of Africa country on a firm trajectory for growth.

At the London Somalia Conference, the President said although AMISOM had made significant progress in checking terrorist activities and stabilising Somalia, there was still much to do before a planned AMISOM drawdown.

"I therefore urge this conference to endorse the call by the troop-contributing countries and the African Union for urgent measures to support and strengthen AMISOM, including the upsurge of AMISOM by an additional 4,000 troops to liberate areas still under the control of terrorists," he said.

"The international community should also facilitate the deployment of critical enablers and force multipliers as well as the provision of predictable and sustainable funding, including from the United Nations assessed contributions," Mr Kenyatta added.

The conference is co-chaired by British Prime Minister Theresa May, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and the President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni are also in attendance.

Mr Kenyatta called for provision of UN support to Somalia security forces to accelerate the AMISOM exit strategy.

He sought support for the implementation of Somalia National Development Plan to enable the people of Somalia, including refugees, to go back home and participate in the reconstruction of their country.

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