Kenya urged Cyprus to prioritize the Al Shabaab conflict when the island nation assumes leadership of the European Union Council in early 2026. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi expressed concerns that diminishing international attention toward Somalia threatens regional security achievements. The diplomatic appeal occurred during bilateral discussions at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos participated in talks that resulted in an agricultural cooperation agreement between the two countries. Mudavadi emphasized the importance of maintaining European Union engagement with Horn of Africa security challenges.
Approximately 3,000 Kenyan soldiers serve within the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, while international support continues declining. Mudavadi warned that global focus has shifted toward Ukraine and Middle Eastern conflicts, leaving frontline African nations to combat terrorism independently. The African Union faces multiple continental crises spanning Sudan, South Sudan, the Sahel regions, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kenya fears that troop withdrawal could create dangerous security gaps with limited international willingness to intervene. This diplomatic initiative represents broader efforts to restore international commitment to counterterrorism operations across the Horn of Africa.
Approximately 3,000 Kenyan soldiers serve within the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, while international support continues declining. Mudavadi warned that global focus has shifted toward Ukraine and Middle Eastern conflicts, leaving frontline African nations to combat terrorism independently. The African Union faces multiple continental crises spanning Sudan, South Sudan, the Sahel regions, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kenya fears that troop withdrawal could create dangerous security gaps with limited international willingness to intervene. This diplomatic initiative represents broader efforts to restore international commitment to counterterrorism operations across the Horn of Africa.
