JOINT KENYA-SOMLI COMMUNIQUE: 31ST OCTOBER 2011
ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF A MEETING BETWEEN THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA
The Government of the Republic of Kenya and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) held high level bilateral talks in Nairobion 31st October 2011. The Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, H.E. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali led the TFG delegation, while the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga was leader of the Kenya delegation. The Prime Minister of the TFG was accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, H.E. Hussein Arab Isse, Hon. Abdiwahab Ugas Hussein Ugas Khalif, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Industry and Commerce, Hon. Abdisamad Mohamud Hassan, Minister for Interior and National Security, Gen. Abdulkadir Sheikh Ali Dini, Commander of TFG of Somalia forces and Amb. Mohamed Ali Nur, Somali Ambassador to Kenya.
Accompanying the Prime Minister of Kenya were; Hon. Mohamed Yusuf Haji, Minister of State for Defence, Hon. Richard Onyonka, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gen. Julius Karangi, Chief of Defence Forces of Kenya, Dr. Mohamed Isahakia, Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Amb. Nancy Kirui, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of State for Defense. Others were; Maj. Gen (rtd) Michael Gichangi, Director General, National Security Intelligence Service, Mr. Mathew Iteere, Police Commissioner; Amb. Patrick S. Wamoto, Political and Diplomatic Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Amb. Maj. Gen (rtd) James Mulinge, Kenyan Ambassador to Somalia;
The meeting was a follow up to the deliberations agreed upon between the two countries in Mogadishu on 18th October 2011 on the operationalization of a Joint Mechanism to manage the joint security operations in Southern Somalia. The meeting also discussed the positive outcome of the 41st Extra-Ordinary IGAD Council of Ministers Session held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 21st October 2011 on the developments in Somalia following Kenya’s security operations in Southern Somalia in pursuit of Al Shabaab militants.
The meeting welcomed the decision to jointly engage the Kenyan Defence Forces and TFG forces in the hunt for Al Shabaab and agreed on the following:
1. That Kenya’s security operation inside Somalia is aimed at eliminating the threat posed by Al Shabaab to Kenya’s national security and economic well being, and is based on the legitimate right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter;
2. That Al Shabaab constitutes a threat to both Somalia and Kenya and is therefore a common enemy for the entire region and the world. This threat must be fought jointly by the two nations with support from the international community;
3. That the current operations are being led by the TFG of Somalia Forces with the support of the Kenyan Defence Forces in pursuit of legitimate Al Shabaab targets;
4. That the Somali Government supports the activities of the Kenyan forces, which are being fully coordinated with the TFG of Somalia and being carried out in the spirit of good neighbourliness and African unity.
5. That there will be continuous sharing of intelligence and information on Al Shabaab activities and the military operation to flush them out. In this regard, a joint high level coordination committee has been established which will maintain regular ongoing contact including periodic meetings in Nairobi and Mogadishu.
6. To mount a joint diplomatic campaign by both countries to galvanize support for the operation beginning with a joint meeting with select members of the Diplomatic Corps in Nairobi on November 1, 2011 and followed by visits to several select capitals.
7. That additional AMISOM troops be provided to move into the liberated areas in Southern Somalia to help safeguard peace and security and assist the establishment of local administration with the guidance of the TFG.
8. That the international community assists in providing immediate humanitarian assistance in the liberated areas and provide needed funding for other urgently needed services such as in health and education.
9. That the TFG will seek ICC assistance in beginning immediate investigations into crimes against humanity committed by individuals within the Al Shabaab movement with the aim of seeking their indictment.
10. That the international community provides the necessary logistical and financial support for the blockade of the Port of Kismayu until Al Shabaab is removed;
11. That the Kenya Government shall not negotiate with Al Sahbaab but the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia is free to negotiate with all armed opposition groups within the instruments guiding this road map(i.e. The Djibouti Peace Process and the Kampala Accord as recommended by IGAD and the African Union) provided they renounce violence.
Done in Nairobi on this 31st day of October, 2011,
For the Government of the Republic of Kenya:
Rt. HON. RAILA AMOLO ODINGA, EGH,
Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya
For the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia
H.E ABDIWELI MOHAMED ALI,
Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia
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