President William Ruto of Kenya has emphasized that terrorism in Somalia and the Horn of Africa must come to an end. Speaking on Thursday, Ruto commended countries whose troops are in Somalia fighting terrorism. ‘We celebrate the progress made in supporting the transformation of Somalia into a stable, secure, and prosperous country,’ he said. President Ruto noted that the countries must act with focus and urgency and resolve the sustainability and predictability of financial support to ensure that their forces in Somalia function effectively. He urged fellow Heads of State to strengthen cooperation through the timely and effective sharing of critical information and intelligence to eliminate the threat of cross-border terrorism in the region. Ruto was speaking during the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State of the troop-contributing countries to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia in Entebbe, Uganda. Presidents Yoeri Museveni (Uganda), Hassan Mohamud (Somalia), Ismael Omar Guelleh (Djibouti), Évariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi) and Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia Demeke Mekonnen were present. President Ruto had earlier said Kenya will continue to support a stable and peaceful Somalia for the benefit of its people and the East Africa region. He added that a peaceful Somalia will provide a conducive atmosphere for an increase in trade between the two nations.

Source: Somali National News Agency