Upon his arrival at Aden Adde Airport, Secretary Duale and his delegation were warmly welcomed by his Somali counterpart, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, along with other prominent ministers and lawmakers.
This reception underscored the importance and seriousness of the discussions that would take place during the visit.
The centerpiece of Secretary Duale’s visit was his meeting with the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, at the presidential office in Mogadishu.
The two leaders engaged in extensive talks, emphasizing the need for closer cooperation and the acceleration of joint operations to eliminate al-Shabab. The group has posed significant threats not only to Somalia but also to neighboring countries, including Kenya.
“The President of Somalia, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who received the Minister of Defense of Kenya, Mr. Aden Barre Duale, spoke about the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries and the acceleration of joint efforts to eradicate terrorism,” stated the office of the president in a statement released after the meeting.
Secretary Duale’s visit comes in the wake of recent statements made by the him regarding the withdrawal of Kenyan troops from Somalia. In an address to the Senate two weeks ago, Minister Duale announced that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will complete their withdrawal from Somalia by December 31, 2024.
“The last troops are expected to leave Somalia on 31 December 2024 as per the AU (African Union) and UN Security Council resolution and plan,” Minister Duale informed the Senate.
He further explained that Kenya had initiated the phased withdrawal of troops from Somalia in April 2021 in accordance with the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
To date, 400 soldiers each from Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya, out of the total 2,000 ATMIS soldiers, have already left Somalia as part of the ongoing withdrawal process. Additionally, 200 soldiers from Djibouti and 600 soldiers from Burundi have also departed.
While Kenya is in the process of withdrawing its troops, it still remains one of the countries contributing forces to ATMIS. Kenya’s Defense Forces (KDF) maintain bases in the Jubbaland regional administration, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to regional security and stability.
