As Kenyans and the entire world continues to mourn the Kenya Defense Forces – KDF soldiers that were killed by Alshabaab militants in El-Adde in Somalia, three African heads of state have vowed not to relent on the fight against terror.
Led by Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta and his counterparts Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Hassan Sheikh Muhammud of the war-ravaged Somalia, they said that the fight against terror is a global challenge that should be embraced by leaders across the globe.
“The fight against terror is a global war that requires a global response from all leaders,” said President Kenyatta in his speech at the Moi Barracks in Eldoret during the inter-denomination prayers for the victims of the massacre that left an unknown number of soldiers dead.
The head of state added that the fight against Alshabaab militia shall continue in Somalia until the neighboring country attains its stability vowing to hunt for each and every member of the terror group to be brought to book.
“As a country we shall stand with the families of the fallen soldiers who died on line of duty as they served the country and I promise that every single terrorist shall be hunted down and be brought to book,” said Kenyatta.
He said that the KDF soldiers shall soldier on with their mission in Somalia under the AMISOM troops to fulfill the mission of restoring peace and security in the war-torn country that has not had a stable government since early 1990’s after the ouster of then president Mohammed Siad Barre.
Kenyatta reiterated that Kenyan troops will not retreat from the mission as it has been proposed by leaders from across the political divide and other major stakeholders in the country noting that such a move shall give the militants courage to launch more attacks and strikes to Kenyans back home.
“For the sake of the security of our country and the safety of the entire region, the mission in Somalia must be accomplished because this is not the time to listen to other dissenting voices and despair,” he added.
Kenyatta further noted that such militia groups such as Alshabaab are not isolated cases in Somalia alone but other countries such as Nigeria have had similar experiences with the Boko Haram hence the fight against such terror groups should be all inclusive.
On his part the Nigerian president said that terrorists know no boundary, religion or race hence can attack any country pointing out how Nigeria has struggled to fight the infamous Boko Haram group.
“Terrorists have continued to inflict pain and misery to innocent people across the world and that is why we need to come together as leaders across the globe to fight these groups until they have no place in the society,’ said Buhari.
He said that people from all nations should rise against the culture of intolerance, hatred and extremist ideologies and be firm against radicalization of youths in respective countries.
“Together we can and shall defeat terrorists, their sponsors and sympathizers and in this regard, Nigeria stands in solidarity and is willing to work with Kenya and indeed other African countries and the global community at large with a view to defeat these undesirable elements,” said Buhari in his speech at the prayer meeting.
He further said that the battle must be taken to the terrorists whoever they are and wherever they are a move he said needed commitment, sacrifice, resources and collaboration bearing in mind that no country is immune since terrorists know no boundary, color, race, religion or creed.
In his speech the Somalia president said that the Alshabaab group is an enemy of humanity and not just Somalia as a country or Kenyans showing optimism that the group shall soon be defeated in this part of the world.
“We should know that Alshabaab is not just an enemy of Somalia but they are enemies of humanity that should be fought from all corners and I am sure soon they will be defeated in this part of the world,” said president Muhammud.
He also reiterated president Buahri’s sentiments that terror has no borders, race, religion or creed and should be treated as an enemy within.
“As said earlier many times that terrorism has no borders and has no ethnicity and of course has no religion at all because they are an enemy of everyone and are an enemy who are with us and who stands to eliminate us,’ Sheikh Muhammud noted.
Above all the Somalia president thanked the efforts done by Kenyan KDF troops in Somalia noting that Somalia shall remain indebted to Kenya for the gratefulness done for Somalis in Kenya and back home in Somalia.
“I cannot express in words the importance and role of KDF inside Somalia but all I can say is thank you Kenya! Thank you Kenya! And Thank you Kenya!,”said the Somalia President Sheikh Muhammud.
“These barbaric devils they don’t have religion they don’t have moral humanity at all but we will definitely defeat them because we defeated them in the past, we are defeating them every day and we will defeat them finally in this part of the world,” he said.
Deputy president William Ruto who accompanied the heads of state to the ceremony in Moi Barracks said that the fight against Alshabaab must be embraced by all Kenyans and leaders regardless of their political, ethnic and religious affiliations.
He pointed out that Kenyans stood behind President Kenyatta and the KDF forces to continue fighting in Somalia to restore security and stability of the neighboring country.
Others who attended the prayers included CS for defense Raychael Omamo and his foreign affairs counterpart Amina Mohammed among other government officers including chief of general staff Samson Mwathethe.
The prayers that were attended by relatives of the fallen soldiers, friends and colleagues from the Moi Air Barracks that had a huge number of the victims were held by spiritual leaders from different denominations comprising of Christians led by Archbishop Eliud wabukala of the Anglican church and Bishop Philip Anyolo of the Catholic church together with Muslims among others.
