6
INSTITUTION AFFILIATION
NAME:
REG. NO:
EFFECTS OF PULLING OUT KENYA DEFENSE FORCE IN SOMALIA
April 19 2019
Table of Contents
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY. 1
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 JUSTIFICATION 2
1.1.1 Increasing Number of Refugees. 2
1.1.2 Increased Internal Insecurity 3
1.1.3 International Cooperation as a Counter-Terrorism Measure 3
1.1.4 KDF’s Participation in Peace Support Operations 3
1.1.5 Cross border trade in the Somalia borderlands 4
2.0 Summary 4
References 5
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY.
INTRODUCTION
The Republic of Kenya and citizens have witnessed the ongoing conflict in Somalia. A brief history into the prolonged civil war dates back into 1991 when a regime led by Siad Barre who have overthrown the previous government through a military coup. Siad Barre’s regime turned the horn of Africa region into a Socialist from a client state of the Soviet Union. The president got support from the United States in flipping the nation, despite his poor records on human rights. Thus, the ruling government was so oppressive the public formed a clan-based army in verge to over the ruling regime. The armed forces named United Somali Congress (USC) managed to exit Siad Barre from power in the state’s capital Mogadishu in January 1991. (IRIN Africa.2010).
Having achieved their core purpose, the clan-based army descended on each other. Because unifying factor had been toppled off hence rising into power battle led to an unending struggle. The inter-clan battles increased to an intense nationwide civil war that continues up to date in Somalia. The civil war has adversely negatively affected the nation’s citizens, immediate neighboring countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. Hence, in response to ceasing war national and international bodies have been formed with the solid aim of restoring peace, freedom and an effective functional government operating in Somalia. In 1992, the UN responded by setting diplomatic engagements in between antagonizing groups, negotiated in Mogadishu. A body was formed well known as United Nations Operations in Somalia (UNOSOM). (Walker R. A.2004). However, the organization could not manage to quell undergoing civil war and provide humanitarian activities to the citizens faced by famine.
In 2011, the Republic of Kenya government marked an entry of Kenya Defense Force (KDF) to the horn of Africa war-ravaged region which was named OPERATIONS LINDA NCHI (. This was a common measure to ensure security Kenyan citizens, freedom and right to protection. Kenyan soldiers stepping into Somaliland soil aimed to prevent furtherance of civil war crisis while reducing security threats n Kenyan citizens and tourist to Kenya. This response sparked a lot of interest nationally, within the sub-region, regionally and also internationally.
This study term paper, therefore, attempts to understand the rationale on the impact that the entrance of Kenya Defence Force (KDF) has had on Kenya. Besides, making a predictive view on what if Kenyan soldiers are pulled out of Somaliland and undertake their operations within the country’s borderline. Although, the current president remarks and response to public outcry calling for withdrawal Kenyan soldiers in Somaliland may sound unpleasant to their ears. The president, while commemorating fallen heroes and heroines said that Kenya Defence Force (KDF) under AMISOM would maintain their presence until the state has restored peace and terror groups have been neutralized. (Walker R. A.2004).
Therefore, taking into consideration what would be the impact of the Kenya Defence Force (KDF) withdrawal from Somalia if the commander in Chief takes heed of the public outcry. What will be a positive impact or negative results on Kenya as a nation and the citizens? How about the core purpose the Kenyan soldiers; defending and protecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace and freedom of the country will these be still achieved. (Walker R. A.2004). Thus, while researching this term paper it has to be carried out of forecasting, what will be the results assuming Kenya Defence Force soldiers have been pulled out of Somalia?
1.1 JUSTIFICATION
Kenya’s social, economic, political growth, well-being today and in future needs stability of security which is the government’s constitutional responsibility to provide and ensure its continuity. The government has in the past and current times been grappling with the deteriorating state of its internal security as a result of external insecurity mainly brought about by the ongoing conflict in Somalia. Therefore, the measures being employed so far to tackle this insecurity menace have been with a solid aim of bringing peace to the bedrock of civil war that will be a long lasting solution to insecurity in Kenya and Somalia. (Bradbury M. 1994). Thus, key points discussed below aim at providing a perspective view on the results of the withdrawal of troops from Somalia.
1.1.1 Increasing Number of Refugees.
Since the civil war in Somalia officially begun in 1991, Kenya has seen its state’s population increase of refugees. This has largely been contributed due to the influx of incoming refugees fleeing from the war-torn nation of Somalia. Also, a great polarity of Kenya’s borders which has seen even non- registered refugees gain access into the country. Besides, when these refugees settle in camps, for instance, Dadaab which is the largest refugee camp in Kenya with a large population, these people need humanitarian help. Therefore, ballooning Kenya’s budget on aid to the refugees’ settlement in Kenya. The continued civil war in Somalia means that the number of refugees fleeing to Kenya will certainly increase. (Bradbury M. 1994). Hence, the government should fight the root cause of civil war and terror groups in Somalia which translates to peace restoration and resettlement of refugees in Kenya to their parent country.
1.1.2 Increased Internal Insecurity
The Northern and North-Eastern regions of Kenya are most notorious for poor security due to the high number of Somali refugees who settled mostly in these areas, and some of whom have gained citizenship status and therefore is referred to as Kenyan Somalis. Unrest in these two regions of Kenya has largely been due to inter-clan conflicts from the Kenyan Somalis who have settled in these areas. Which has caused many deaths to the people caught up in the fighting? Apart from inter-clan fighting in the Northern and North Eastern regions, Kenya has also witnessed and unfortunately been a victim of major terrorist attacks within its borders and the perpetrators were terrorists from the group Al-Shabaab whose capital base is inside Somalia and one of their aims being launching these attacks on Kenya is intended to destabilize the country. Therefore, if an initiative is taken to pull out troops, these facilitate an increased number of attacks that will be carried out within the country’s boundary. (International Crisis Group. 2012).
1.1.3 International Cooperation as a Counter-Terrorism Measure
These terrorist attacks alongside others prompted the government of Kenya to be left with no other alternative other than to fight terror. If she was to be in a position to secure her from further aggressive activities emanating from terrorist groups and their operatives. The first step was at the international arena where she rooted for cooperation with the West who arguably had superior counter-terrorism weaponry, able and well trained counter-terrorism manpower as well as superior intelligence collection machinery. Also, Kenya Defense Force is currently under AMISOM and international body that has conjoined troops from various countries who have vowed to fight terrorism in the country. (All Africa. 2009). Hence, the withdrawal of soldiers from Somalia soil will be against the agreement made by the United Nations states to counter terrorism within and outside countries’ borders.
1.1.4 KDF’s Participation in Peace Support Operations
Kenya joined the community of nations on attaining independence on 12th December 1963.On 16th December 1963, Kenya became a member of the UN. Since then Kenya has been committed to supporting UN peace initiatives all over the world. Peace Support Operations (PSOs) within the KDF can be traced back to 1973 when the UN requested the Republic of Kenya to contribute forces for peace operations in the Middle East after the Israel-Arab war. In Somalia, KDF is an interested party to the conflict engaged in a war to secure and defend its national interests. (Francis D.J. 2008). Therefore, the core purpose of the KDF troops in Somalia is to restore peace which will be of great favor to the interest of Kenya government in economic benefits. Hence, the withdrawal of troops will be an unfavorable condition to the national interest and citizens of Kenya.
1.1.5 Cross border trade in the Somalia borderlands
The trade goods in this market channel are dominated by the flow of cattle from southern Somalia through the border area, and eventually to large urban markets in Kenya. In contrast to other border areas in the Horn region (e.g., the Kenya-Ethiopia border around Moyale), the Kenya/Somalia border is distant from good agricultural zones and, consequently, there is only minimal movement of agricultural products across the border. In some cases, maize and wheat flour will be moved from Kenya to Somalia when shortages exist, and food aid is unavailable in southern Somalia. Such shipments are moved in small quantities—what can be packed on a donkey or taken by a trader in a bush taxi. Tea, sugar, and clothes are also moved from Kenya to Somalia in small quantities on livestock merchants’ return trips to Somalia. Once again, the quantities are small, to avoid confiscation and theft. Some Mirra (the mildly narcotic leaf) also is moved from Mandera, Kenya, to Somalia, but the bulk of this commodity is shipped directly by air transport from Nairobi to Somalia. However, increased insecurity makes the trade in consumer goods difficult. Hence it is noticeable that the impact of securing and ensuring safety has been of great benefit to the citizens and the government economically. (Little P. D.2002). Therefore, restoration of peace in Somali land will increase border trading and movement of people between the two nations boasting interaction and sharing of expertise in various fields in between the countries.
Summary
The study carried out on term paper observes that the security threats emanating from state collapse in Somalia for an extended period are ravaging the Kenyan state and following her and bringing to their knees critical sectors of the Kenyan economy. The state of insecurity has also been threatening to destabilize the state and lead to its eventual disintegration in the neighboring country. Hence, sending of the Kenya Defence Force and joined by other army bodies covered under the umbrella of AMISOM has been a good measure taken by the government. It has increased the trust on the soldiers to restore peace, fight piracy and reduce radicalization of young people to join in militia groups. Finally, a view to being taken into consideration is for the Kenyan soldiers to remain in Somalia until peace has been fully restored and handed over a stable government in place.
References
All Africa. (2009, August 6). Kenya: New Anti-Terrorism Unit Formed. Retrieved April 10, 2019, from The Republic of Kenya: republicofkenya.org/2009/08/kenya_new_anti terrorism_unit_formed/
Bradbury Mark (1994). The Somali Conflict; The Prospects of Peace Oxfam
Francis David J (2008). Peace and Conflict in Africa. Zed Books London.
Hared, A. (2005). Combating Trans-National Terrorism in Kenya. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
International Crisis Group. (2012). The Kenyan Military Intervention in Somalia. Crisis Group Africa.
IRIN Africa. (2010), September 17). Kenya – Somalia: Insecurity Without Borders. Retrieved April 10, 2019, from IRIN Africa: http://www.irinnews.org/report/90505/kenya-somalia insecurity-without-borders
Little P. D., (2002). The Global Dimensions of Cross- Border Trade in the Somalia Borderlands.
Africa 62, no. 1: 94-12.
Walker R. A. (2004). Multilateral Conferences: Purposeful International Negotiation Palgrave. Macmillan New York