Kenya denies involvement in Beled-Hawo conflict

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki urged Kenya and Somalia to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue in conformity with the IGAD-led process.

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Kenya denies involvement in Beled-Hawo conflict

NAIROBI, Kenya - Kenya has denied on Tuesday any involvement in the Beled-Hawo battle between Somali government troops and Jubaland forces on Monday that left at least 11 people dead and 14 hurt in the border town.

"Kenya has nothing to do with the incidents in Beled-Hawo and considers them as an internal Somali matter," said Kenya’s security minister, Fred Matiang’I, adding “no troops” had crossed into Somalia.

Matiang’i affirmed that his country hoped Somalia would remain stable, saying that instability in the neighboring nation would negatively affect the security situation in East Africa.

The minister's statement comes after Somalia’s ministry of foreign affairs said “militias armed” by Kenya crossed the border into the country on Sunday night and attacked SNA forces in Beled-Hawo.

“The Federal Government of Somalia strongly condemns this illegal aggression orchestrated and planned within Kenya. These actions are an affront to the peaceful coexistence and to international norms of mutual respect, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty,” read the statement in part.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki urged Kenya and Somalia to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue in conformity with the IGAD-led process.

The relations between the two countries had been at the lowest point since Farmajo assumed office in 2017 as Mogadishu blames Nairobi for frequent interference in its internal politics and violating sovereignty.

Kenya is one of the troops contributing countries to the African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] and has been providing support to Kismayo-based Ahmed Madobe, the leader of the Jubaland state.

AMISOM had been protecting the weak Government in Mogadishu from the Al-Shabaab terrorist group since 2007 and helping in the restoration of peace and stability in the country.

KON English News Desk

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