
VISITING European Union special representative for the horn of Africa yesterday spelled out terms on which the bloc will continue funding an expanded African Union Mission in Somalia, which will now include Kenya Defence Forces.
Alexander Rondos, who is barely a month in office, told journalists in Nairobi yesterday that the EU wants to see a concrete and fundamental shift towards the stability of Somalia in the course of this year.
The representative who was accompanied by EU's ambassador to Somalia Georges-Marc Andre said EU will neither tolerate a “mixed agenda” approach to the Somalia crisis nor condone those who have, over time, proved themselves stumbling blocks to peace in the country.![]()
"There must be clarity of purpose and efficient delivery on the part of those engaged in Somalia. Deadlines on road to stability should no longer be extended.
“It is important to say that the EU is a political being; its not simply a provider of cash. It is essential to see that all that money spent on Somalia is properly accounted for to the European taxpayers, this investment must pay off,” he said.
Since 2007, the EU has spent 307 million euros (approximately Sh30 billion) in funding Amisom, set to end in July this year. The union is currently planning for another round of funding of an enhanced Amisom whose costs, Rondos said, will go up.
He said there cannot be a business-as-usual approach to Somalia and expressed optimism that the upcoming London conference on Somalia in July will help the country transition to “some viable political system”.
“We must get it either right or wrong sometimes this year. There will be a tipping point this time round. I understand politics involved but there must come a point in time when this goes beyond to the next level,”he said.
He said EU will not impose any system in Somalia though. The Somali people themselves will be encouraged to identify a system they can trust as well as the people to run them on their behalf.
Commenting specifically on the KDF involvement in Somalia, Rondos said the offensive has some potentially positive outcomes. He said Al Shabaab must be defeated either militarily like Kenya is seeking or politically.
Of Kenyan demand that it be given leeway to command its own troops even within Amisom, Rondos said this is a “natural debate” and expressed optimism that some agreement will be made in this regard.
“In technical terms, its all about command and control. Its a natural debate and an AU discussion. I am sure a satisfactory solution will be obtained,” he said.



