Monday September 22, 2025
New York (HOL) — Kenya has urged Cyprus to prioritize the
fight against Al Shabaab when it assumes the Presidency of the Council of the
European Union in early 2026.
Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA), Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and
Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi warned that waning international attention on
Somalia could undermine regional security gains.
“There is growing international fatigue because of other
conflicts and a shift in focus. The international community’s support has
depreciated significantly, and countries like Kenya have been left to carry the
heavy load in this fight,” Mudavadi said.
Kenya currently deploys about 3,000 troops in Somalia under
the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Mudavadi cautioned
that a Kenyan withdrawal could create a dangerous security vacuum few
international players are prepared to fill.
The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in
Somalia (AUSSOM) is facing a severe funding crisis, with an estimated annual
budget of $166.5 million but only $16.7 million pledged so far. UN Resolution
2719, intended to establish a pathway for UN budget support, has yet to be
finalized, leaving a significant financial gap.
Cyprus will take over the Presidency of the Council of the
European Union in the first half of 2026, its second time since 2012.