Kenya Insights

Tag: Amisom

  • Amisom to extend stay in Somalia

    Amisom to extend stay in Somalia

    The troops serving under the AMISOM have been granted a mandate to continue staying in the country, days after they began drawing back to their barracks to return back to their respective countries.

    The existence of African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) troops was extended by two weeks from end of February to March 14 as the country’s leaders pushed for a political pact. But the situation in Somalia got tensed when President Mohamed Farmaajo attempted to extend his term by two years.

    Farmaajo has since reversed that decision after Somalia senators voted on Saturday to overturn the two-year presidential term extension they had initially approved. The decision resulted to chaos after heavily armed troops for and against the president clashed.

    The situation led to fears that the crisis could lead to a power vacuum that the  al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants could use to split the country along clan lines and attack each other. Amisom had to stay and even the agreement reached with the prime minister over the violence and the president’s term could not send AU forces out of Somalia.

    Former Kenyan Defense Secretary Raychelle Omamo when she made a surprise visit to KDF troops in Somalia [p/courtesy]
     AU Peace and the Security Council agreed to extend their mandate to end of December 2021 in a decision that is expected to sail before the UN Security Council at the end of May.

    The decision was arrived at during the meeting between 15-member AU Peace and the Security Council held on Tuesday. ”At today’s AUPSC meeting , the Council reached a consensus to extend the mandate of Amisom until 31st Dec 2021,” the statement reads.

    The AU Council comprises of 15 members who are elected for a three year term on rotational basis. Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Algeria and Ghana are some of the current members. It is AU’s standing decision making organ for prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.

    Amisom troops have been in Somalia since to 2007 when it was formed but its mandate has always been extended by a year after it failed to stabilize the governments of Somalia.

    Kenyan Defense Forces also set their boots in the country in October 2011 under the ‘Operation Linda Nchi’ with an aim to exit in March 2012 but are still in the war-torn country. KDF extended their stay in Somalia beyond 2012 after it’s forces joined the AMISOM to boost efforts to eliminate the Al Shabaab insurgents.

     

  • KDF funding falls by Sh8bn as audit reveals ghost soldiers in Somalia

    KDF funding falls by Sh8bn as audit reveals ghost soldiers in Somalia

    Money reimbursed to Kenya to facilitate the payment of troops fighting the dreaded Al-Shabaab insurgents in Somalia for the half-year period to December 2020 was Sh8 billion short of Treasury’s target as audit report showing that there are payments made to ghost soldiers.

    Data from the exchequer shows that grants from African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) that gets funds from European Union (EU) and other partners amounted to Sh1.45 billion in the period between July-December period when the budget stood at Sh9.45 billion.

    Contributions from Amison accounts for about 25.22%  Sh489.60 million) but was Sh1.94 billion in a similar period in the year 2019. These revelations come after an audit conducted by PwC Associates Ltd discovered that payments are made to soldiers who had left Somalia leading to the loss of millions of dollars between 2016 and 2018.

    The revelations have pushed the National Treasury to cap it’s target from Amison for the period ending June 2021 to Sh7.4 billion from an initial target of Sh24.1 billion as Kenya expects some Sh2.5 billion in the next financial year before the coffers run dry prior to KDF’s full withdrawal from Somalia.

    Members of Al Shabaab militia [p/courtesy]
    Kenyan troops serve for one year in the war torn country before they are alternated with each soldier earning about Sh87,200 after the government deducts some Sh21,800 to cater for administrative costs.

    Funds from the EU cover allowances for Amisom soldiers, police, operational costs for Amisom offices, international and local civilian salaries but Kenyan funds have been declining with Kenya reducing the number of its troops to Somalia.

    In 2018 there were reports that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) would begin a two year withdraw plan after they entered Somalia under the aegis of “Operation Linda Nchi” on October 14, 2011 in pursuit of Al Shabaab terrorists who were abducting and killing aid workers and tourists in North Eastern and Coast.

    But on February 25, the 15-member UN Security Council agreed that African Union should maintain their troops under Amisom until March 14.