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"speaker_name": "Mr. Wetangula",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs",
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"legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Last week, the hon. Member for Vihiga requested for a Ministerial Statement on the status of the situation in Somalia. Hon. Members will recall that after two years of peace and reconciliation talks at Mbagathi under Kenya's mediation, the people of Somalia, in an unprecedented and widely representative conference freely and democratically agreed to a transitional political settlement founded on a Federal Charter to end more than a decade-and-a-half of conflict. The charter and the transitional federal institution created the Transitional Federal Government (TNG) and the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) which were, subsequently, recognized by Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD), the AU and the entire international community. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on 9th February, 2004, our President said the following to underscore the importance of Somalia:- \"As a neighbouring country, we wish to see peace and security restored in Somalia and the entire Horn of Africa. But above all, lasting and durable peace and a stable Government in Somalia is a matter of great national interest to Kenya\". That remains the case. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, following the relocation of the transitional federal institutions to Somalia and the inability of the TFG to move to the capital, Mogadishu, the IGADD Summit of Heads of State, at the request of the TFG and the TFP, took a decision to deploy a peace support mission to help consolidate the gains achieved in Mbagathi. This discussion was endorsed by the AU. Kenya concluded a framework agreement with the TFG in recognition to help the people and government of Somalia to transit from civil war to democratic development. A number of other steps were taken to ensure that the fragile peace agreement concluded is not undermined or threatened. This included the banning of warlords and other elements from Somalia bent on destabilizing that country from using Kenya as an operational centre. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Kenya undertook appropriate diplomatic interventions to enhance further genuine reconciliation between the leadership of the Transitional Federal Institution (TFI) and other interested parties, including until recently, the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). The ICU has emerged since June, 2006, as a major factor on the Somalia political scene. Kenya continues to encourage dialogue between them and the TFI. The apparent collapse of the third round of the Intra-Somalia talks which were to be held in Khartoum, Sudan, from 30th October, 2006, is being addressed by IGADD, to which President Mwai Kibaki is the Chair, in collaboration with the League of Arab States and the rest of the international community, with a view to bringing Somali parties back to the table to talk. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Kenya strongly believes that like all situations of conflict, the resolution of the Somalia situation can best be achieved through dialogue. In this regard, it is upon 3470 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES November 8, 2006 the Somali people to accept to negotiate in the spirit of compromise, in order to resolve their conflict. For a country that has been ravaged by conflict and civil strife for over 15 years, it is impossible to expect durable peace to return overnight. Indeed, the entire process is constantly being scuttled or undermined both internally and externally. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we continue our collective search as IGADD to provide a conducive environment for the TFI to operate through the envisaged peace support measures, we recognize that dialogue is the only solution towards a negotiated and genuine settlement of the crisis. We encourage the parties to chose the path of dialogue and peace, within the framework of the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC). It is for this reason that I was mandated by the IGADD Council of Ministers meeting in Nairobi to open a window through which dialogue between the ICU and the TFG can be enhanced. Consequently, on behalf of Kenya and IGADD Council of Ministers and our Ambassador to Somalia, Amb. Affey, I visited Somalia to consult and assess the situation. I met the TFG in Baidoa and the leadership of the ICU in Mogadishu. Both parties expressed their readiness to dialogue. We facilitated the travel of the ICU leadership to Nairobi in early September with whom we again held extensive discussions on the need to have peace in their country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the crisis in Somalia is not a Kenya or IGADD problem, but a regional problem. It is by all means an international crisis that stretches global peace and security. The problem of piracy, terrorism and illicit flow of arms that we have witnessed in Somalia illustrates the magnitude of this problem. On 29th August, 2006, I wrote to the President of the UN Security Council, urging the Council to coalesce its support for Somalia and IGADD's collective effort by way of strong Security Council resolution. We equally appeal to the UN Security Council to lift the arms embargo on Somalia, to enable the TFG build the necessary institutions of governance and civil authority in the country. This has not been done. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is important to note that the emergence of the ICU in Somalia was a community-based response to the lawlessness that pervaded much of Mogadishu and the surrounding areas. Its influence has since been felt in the southern area bordering Kenya. To protect our national interests and territorial integrity, our security forces have been put on high alert, and patrols have been enhanced along our common border with Somalia. Our internal security and intelligence surveillance has also been stepped up to ensure that there is no lapse between the two countries' borders. Comprehensive measures have been taken to thoroughly vet all refugees entering Kenya. We have been receiving up to 2,500 refugees per day, from Somalia. We are vetting them thoroughly to ensure that only genuine refugees are allowed to enter this country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, finally, I want to point out that Somalia is linked to Kenya culturally, socially, economically and environmentally. Its problem inevitably affects our country. I want to urge all those who have any ability or capacity to assist in bringing peace and normalcy in Somalia, to come forward and join the effort. Thank you."
}