Kenya now wants UN to boost counter-terror efforts in the region 

By Fauxile Kibet

Kenya has challenged the United Nations to play a bigger role in fighting terrorist outfits operating in the region saying that the body has often offered “lukewarm” support.

Speaking in Brussels, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary Ababu Namwamba said that there was need for the UN to boost counter-terrorism efforts in the region.

Namwamba said that peace missions are a responsibility of the UN saying that more needs to be done to stop Somalia from falling back to Al-Shabaab control.

“The promotion and maintenance of peace and security in the world is the primary mandate of the United Nations. Unfortunately, the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) continues to suffer insufficient and unpredictable funding” he said.

The United Nations Security Council, the global body’s security wing rejected a previous request by the African Union to have AMISOM to benefit directly from UN funding through assessed contributions.

The UN argued that Amisom is a counter-terrorism force while the tradition at the UN is to fund peacekeeping missions.

Kenya, which contributes 3664 soldiers to the regional force fighting Al-shabaab in Somalia, has also called for more predictable funding to AMISOM.

The UN funds Amisom only by recompensing its equipment and other logistical expenditure. But Nairobi and other troop contributing countries have complained in the past that the money is usually delayed.

Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Djibouti and Burundi have jointly contributed troops to the 22,000-strong force.