Leaders from Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti are in Mogadishu for a planned regional meeting to discuss the al Shabaab terror group and agree on the way forward.
President William Ruto, his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed and Djibouti’s Ismail Gulleh will be hosted by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed in Mogadishu for a one-day extraordinary Summit to discuss the menace.
The summit focuses on strengthening partnerships in the fight against international terrorism.
Army commanders and defence ministers from the Horn of Africa had earlier held a meeting in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, with the main focus being the ongoing crackdown against the militants.
Chief of Defence Forces Gen Robert Kibochi led the Kenyan team.
The Defense Ministers are from Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and other troops contributing nations to Somalia like Uganda and Burundi, who have been integral in the peace-building process in the region.
The meeting was a pacesetter for the summit for the heads of state and governments of the frontline nations, which are critical in the fight against al Shabaab.
The meeting starts on February 1 with Kenya and Ethiopia expected to be the main participants given their proximity to Somalia.
For the last couple of months, the Somali National Army has been pursuing the militants from several fronts across Somalia, with the help of US Africa Command, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], and local militia, who heeded the call.
Officials have said over 500 al Shabaab militants have died according to statistics given by the federal government of Somalia, which is also targeting the taxation bases of the militants.
The government has so far closed over 200 bank accounts and 70 mobile phone firms responsible for helping the terrorists do monetary transactions.
Kenya has close to 3,500 soldiers in Somalia while Ethiopia has about 4,500 who control Sectors II and VI respectively mainly in Jubaland which borders the two nations.
Al Shabaab has been targeting the two countries by invading their territories, with the group attempting to cross over to Ethiopia.
The group has been attacking forward operating bases of the soldiers from the two countries and has previously succeeded.
For Kenya, the group raided EI-Adde and Kulbiyow Forward Operating Bases, killing over 100 soldiers.
Ethiopia has also been on the receiving end but her soldiers have managed to contain the militants in Dolow and other neighbouring towns.
But the September invasion put the country on high alert according to military experts, forcing the country to declare sections of Jubaland a buffer zone.
