US Senator asks US and NATO to support Kenya's Somalia incursion

By Chris Wamalwa in USA

Pressure mounted on the US and NATO to recognize and support Kenya’s incursion into Somalia to root out the Al Shabaab terrorist network in southern Somalia when a US Senator rose on the floor of the senate to applaud Kenya’s move.

Addressing his colleagues in the Senate in Washington, DC, Senator Mark Kirk (IL) thanked the Government of Kenya and President Mwai Kibaki in particular for the difficult and bold decision made to invade Somalia to get rid of Al Shabaab.

Senator Johnny Isakson (on Elkanah Odembo's right) and other guests listening to presentations at the Kenyan Embassy in DC during discussions on Humanitarian Aid to Refugee Camps in Northern Kenya. Senator Isakson is the first US senator to visit the Kenyan embassy in DC. Photo: Chris Wamalwa/Standard

The senator said he supported Kenya’s move and called on the US and NATO to support Kenya’s Action.

"I rise today to thank the Kenya government and President Mwai Kibaki for the difficult move made with regards to Somalia. I support Kenya’s move and ask the US government and NATO to support Kenya’s action. We all recall Somalia as the site of ‘Black Hawk Down’ tragedy in 1993 and as much as Americans might wish to ignore that troubled country, I think we can’t," he said.

Kenya deployed tanks and troops to the Al Shabaab-controlled southern Somalia on October 14 to fight the Al-Qaeda-linked rebels the country blames for kidnapping foreigners and making cross-border raids thus disturbing the peace and threatening the tourism industry.

Since the invasion, Kenya has been on the diplomatic offensive to rally international support arguing that the Al Shabaab threat is not just a threat on the peace and security of Kenya but also the international community.

Obama administration

The Obama administration has been cautious about commenting on Kenya’s move. The State Department has said that the US is monitoring the Kenyan incursion, but not providing assistance. The State Department is advising caution, said Donald Yamamoto, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Africa.

"You don't know what the consequences are going to be. Look at the Ethiopian incursion into Somalia; look at our own personal history. It's fraught with a lot of problems and dangers. The Somalis just do not like foreigners in their area," Mr Yamamoto is quoted to have said recently.

Senator Kirk said that since the collapse of the Somalia government in 1991, the country has never known peace. He said that, instead, the country has given rise close to a million refugees and the second largest terror presence on Earth – the Al Shabaab.

‘Somalia represents a new 21st century threat of piracy across America’s Persian Gulf supply oil lines, it is evident that the East Africa region deserves attention and support from the United States," he said.

　

Praised Kenya

In his elaborate statement, senator Kirk praised Kenya outlining in detail why Kenya launched Operation "Protect the Country" against the Al Shabaab terrorist organization in southern Somalia. Kirk acknowledged that Al Shabaab poses a grave threat to Kenya’s safety and security.

"The success of the Kenyan operation would mean a significant weakening of Al Shabaab’s ability to plan and execute terrorist attacks and would greatly contribute to regional stability". He said

In a related development, US Senator Johnny Isakson has thanked the Kenya Government for agreeing to expand the Dadaab refugee camp in Northern Kenya to accommodate more refugees fleeing war-torn Somalia. Senator Isakson said that the investment the United States has made to the Dadaab camp and the resources that Kenya has asked for has been matched by the generosity that Kenya has also put out towards refugee aid.

"All of the world would love Somalia to turn into a peaceful country and to be rid of the elements of Al Shaabab. But despite this time of crisis, Kenya has been very unselfish and willing to help other people when in trouble." he said

Senator Isakson made these remarks when he visited the Kenyan embassy in Washington, DC to discuss humanitarian aid to the refugee camps.

Updating the Senator on the steps the Kenya government has taken to coordinate relief efforts, Elkanah Odembo, Kenya’s ambassador to US said Kenya has adopted long-term strategies to combat perennial famine. "What we need now is for the international community to act with a sense of urgency in not just saving lives now but also developing long-term strategies to solve this problem," he said.

The meeting was attended by among others, officials from CARE International, Congresswoman Nita Lowey and staff from the offices of Senator Mark Pryor, Congressman Donald Payne, and Congressman Steve Womack.