Kenya says funding AMISOM will lead lasting peace in the region.

Kenyan government said funding African Union peace-keeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) will lead lasting in the region.

In a speech delivered at the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs CS Amina Mohamed said the international community should continue supporting AMISOM in a bid restore peace in the region.

“It is important that we continue funding Amisom and other peace initiatives in Africa because any financial cuts are inconsistent with the objective of achieving peace in the continent,” she said.

Ms Mohamed argued funding cuts announced by the European Union to the Somali mission go against efforts of stabilising the continent.

She spoke during the open debate on peace building in Africa, a session by the UN Security Council.

“I hope this matter will continue to receive the attention of the UN Security Council,” she added.

Ms Mohamed was referring to the recent financial cuts announced by the European Union earlier in the year.

The EU, through the African Peace Facility, has been paying Amisom troops in Somalia a monthly stipend as well as sustaining other non-military staff.

Amisom was created by the African Union to fight against Somali militants al-Shabaab, but it is technically a UN mission because it receives its mandate from the UN Security Council which is to currently run until March 2017.

African Union peacekeeping force is largely responsible for keeping Somalia’s transitional government from falling to Al Shabaab in the capital.

The Horn of Africa nation has not had a fully functioning government since warlords toppled military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

Government troops are attacking the Al-Shabaab alongside the Kenyans in southern Somalia.

The Kenyan army in Somalia used airpower to attack Al Shabaab positions, in response to a deadly attack on KDF base in El Adde town.

Kenya has 3,664 soldiers operating under the framework of AMISOM, who  are in Lower and Middle Juba and Gedo regions.

Uganda, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Burundi are also the troop-contributing countries to AMISOM.