Somalia President Hassan Mohamud on Tuesday completed his diplomatic visit to Kenya after spending two days in the country. During his visit, Mohamud held discussions on several issues with President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi.
The discussions revolved around reviewing bilateral, regional, and international matters of mutual interest. President Ruto underscored the need to deepen and enhance the vibrant bilateral cooperation that exists between the two countries.
On the other hand, President Mohamud commended Ruto for his tireless support of Somalia's State-building efforts and his role in the restoration of peace, security and stability in the Horn of Africa.
Mohamud went ahead to acknowledge the significant role of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in the fight against terrorism alongside Somali Security Forces and other African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS)troop-contributing countries.
ATMIS is a multidimensional mission military, police and civilian force authorised by the African Union (AU) and mandated by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to restore peace in Somalia. ATMIS became operational on April 1, 2022.
During the meeting, the two Heads of State welcomed the establishment of the new African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), another multidimensional military mission to take over the role of ATIMIS.
The two presidents agreed on a smooth transition of security responsibilities from ATMIS to AUSSOM which is scheduled to commence January 1, 2025. According to President Mohamud, AUSSOM must be adequately resourced.
Similarly, President Ruto acknowledged the ongoing bilateral cooperation under the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) framework, which seeks to bolster relations between Kenya and Somalia.
Ruto and Mohamud also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral relations in trade and investment while recognising the opportunity for both nations to leverage their comparative advantages to establish a cohesive bilateral trade system.
While recognising the vast opportunities in trade, the two leaders committed to working towards resolving barriers to further opening markets and facilitating the movement of goods and services.
Consequently, President William Ruto directed Trade Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya to explore ways to enhance trade between the two countries and encouraged the private sector to benefit from the pro-business policies adopted by both countries.
Ruto and Mohamud further reaffirmed the need for continuous and open dialogue to address matters of interest between the two states, resulting in mutual understanding. They emphasised the need to find solutions that honour the rights and aspirations of both nations.
