Kenya will now how to change strategy on her combat against Al-Shabaab following the decision by United Nations on Wednesday to block proposals to have the group blacklisted.
Early this month, Kenya wrote to United Nations Security Council calling for the body to declare Al-Shabaab a terrorist group, a move that was objected by the US.
Foreign Affairs PS Macharia Kamau said that the addition of Al-Shabaab to the al-Qaeda/ISIL sanctions category would focus “global efforts in tackling the group.”
“It has caused serious havoc, not just on Kenya but the region and the world in general,” Mr Kamau added. “It is important that all global efforts now come together to combat this.”
Al-Shabaab has not only caused menace within Somalia but also frequent attacks targeting Kenya. The group has however lost grounds in a number of territories in Somalia.
Somalia’s permanent representative to UN Ambassador Abukar Osman celebrated Wednesday’s resolution, arguing that declaring Al-Shabaab a terrorists group would have further weakened efforts to disintegrate it.
“Commend Council members for rejecting the unjustified listing of AS to 1267 and urge Kenyan Government to implement existing SC res.
“751 targeting AS, including the ban of illegal charcoal trade in Somalia, which is the lifeline of the AS to finance its operations in the region,” he wrote.
Nairobi is yet to issue a statement over the latest development, which could however re-energise Kenya’s bid to secure a slot in the UN Security Council.
Early this week, Somalia accused KDF troops of destroying infrastructure and businesses in Jubbaland, just few days after Kenya-backed Ahmed Madobe won presidency.
Source: Hive