NAIROBI (Somaliguardian) – Kenyan President William Ruto says his Somali counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has showed commitment to fighting the Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab, which carries out attacks in both countries.
In an interview with France 24, Ruto complimented the new Somali leader for his role in efforts to contain the threat of Islamist insurgents in the Horn of Africa region.
“I think with the election of President Hassan, who I have met twice now, he has a much more clearer view of where we need to go,” Ruto said. “I think he is more committed to fighting Al-Shabaab. His resolve is clear to many of us who are in that space.”
Asked about whether he is planning to withdraw thousands of Kenyan troops in Somalia, Ruto said “those troops will be back home as soon as we’ve done with the assignment that we have in Somalia.”
Comments by the Kenyan leader have come weeks after Al-Shabaab said it would carry out more attacks in the heart of Kenya if authorities there ignore its demands to pull out troops from the war-torn Horn of Africa nation.
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