Somalia to support Kenya’s bid for seat at UN Security Council

Somalia has pledged to support Kenya’s bid for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council, President Mohamed Farmaajo has said.

A statement from the Presidency in Nairobi noted President Farmaajo assured his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta of his country’s support in the upcoming vote at the Security Council. There are ten non-permanent members at the Security Council appointed by the General Assembly every two years.

The two leaders discussed bilateral issues and security matters including the continued support for African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in which Kenyan forces play a big role.

The two leaders updated each other on shared security concerns as well as progress in regional efforts to bring peace and stability back to Somalia with the help of Kenya and other nations. President Farmaajo arrived in Kenya wednesday for a one day work visit.

Villa Somalia said the two countries also agreed to set up a joint committee for fact finding on security and border issues which will visit the border districts of Beled Hawo and Mandera. Somalia earlier asked Kenya to stop the construction of the border pending determination of boundaries following complaints from residents of Beled-Hawo.

The Presidency also noted both leaders ‘underscored the need to support free trade and ease movement of people and goods, while also strengthening border security.’

Somalia is fronting former Foreign Affairs Minister Abdusalaam Hadliye Omer for the post of IGAD Executive Secretary currently head by Kenyan Mahboub Moalim. It was not immediately clear if Somalia sought Kenya’s support on this matter. Somalia has not held the position since the regional body IGAD was formed in 1986.