MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Kenya’s President William Ruto has said that Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab will seize power in Somalia after the African Union withdraws its troops by the end of this year, days after Washington pledged new partnerships on technology, security and debt relief to Nairobi.
Speaking during a visit to the United States, the Kenyan leader called for Washington to step in to prevent an Afghanistan-like scenario in the war-ravaged Horn of Africa nation.
“Today, Kenya is backstopping the security challenges in the Horn of Africa. Before I came here on Saturday, I had an engagement with the President of Somalia and we have serious security challenges because of this impending drawdown of ATMIS that is calendar-based, not conditions-based,” Ruto said.
“Our position is that the United States should step in and change the trajectory, otherwise we will exit ATMIS troops and the terrorists will take over Somalia. I don’t think it is in anybody’s interest for that to happen.”
Kenya has thousands of ATMIS and non-ATMIS troops operating in Somalia to fight Islamist insurgents. It has raised fear that a hurried withdrawal of ATMIS peacekeepers could tip the balance of the ongoing war in favor of Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda-affiliate which does not only carry out attacks in Somalia, but also continues to operate in parts of Kenya.
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