After over two decades of hosting the world’s
largest refugee camp, the Kenyan government has finally resolved to begin the
repatriation of the more than 350,000 Somali refugees to the volatile and
politically unstable Somalia. The Daadab camp was originally meant to host
90,000 refugees but has outstretched its capacity to over five times as more
refugees continue to flock the deplorable camp at the Kenyan frontier.
The Kenyan government has maintained that the
camp has become a haven for terrorists. Despite the presence of the Kenya Defense
Forces and African Union peace keepers in Somalia, peace in the horn of African
country has remained elusive resulting in frequent attacks on innocent Kenyans
including the recent Mandera attack in which six people died.
The political and religious leadership in the
expansive Northern frontier which is predominantly Muslim has long been accused
for not urging the community to share important security information with the
local administration and the police on the whereabouts of individuals suspected
or seeking to carry out terrorist activities. During the recent Leaders’ summit
on refugees in New York, the Kenyan government maintained that no amount of
international debate will deter its intentions to close the camp
Despite US government promise for increased
funding to international organizations helping refugees worldwide, Kenya has
admitted little is being done to shoulder the burden of hosting
refugees. Furthermore, the silence of Africa Union to holistically address
the issue of Somalia refugees has cast into shadows the sincerity of the
international community to aide refugees. It’s no surprise the Ethiopian
government recently pulled out its soldiers from Somali leaving only a handful
of African nations to protect Somalis willing to be resettled from potential
Al-Shabaab attacks.
African nations should realize that Somali refugee crisis is not a regional problem but a global one as it poses a danger not only to Kenya but the entire continent and the world at large as Al-Shabaab fighters occasionally hiding in Daadab camp may in future seek association with international terrorist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda. It is imperative that the African Union revitalize its efforts in ensuring a stable Somali government as well as pledge financial support to the poverty stricken Somalis as Kenya begins the repatriation process.