Kenya seeks intervention in Somali leadership impasse

Kenya has appealed to the International Community to help resolve the rift between the President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mahamoud and the Prime Minister Abdweli Ahmed, report said on Tuesday.Deputy President William Ruto made the remarks Tuesday in Nairobi where he held talks with visiting Slovakia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Miroslav Lajcak.

Ruto said the mistrust between the two Somalia leaders is undermining Kenya’s and IGAD efforts to restore peace in the country.

“We are concerned about the rift between the President and the Prime Minister, the situation remains fragile and we are asking for assistance from the international community to help the leaders manage the personal challenges they have,� Ruto noted.

Ruto said there was need for concerted efforts from the international community to help solve the misunderstanding between the two leaders so as to create a peaceful environment in Somalia that can enable thousands of Somali refugees in Kenya to be repatriated back to their country.

“The refugee situation is a huge burden to us, we are working on a framework to repatriate these refugees and need a lot of international support in this efforts,� said Ruto.