Kenya vows to champion peace initiatives to resolve conflicts

NAIROBI, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will continue to prioritize regional integration and promote dialogue and peaceful means to resolve conflicts, a senior government official said on Thursday.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said Kenya, which has been spearheading peace efforts in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region, remains committed to partnerships aimed at advancing regional and international peace and security.

Addressing foreign diplomats and representatives of international organizations in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, Mudavadi said the East African country remains firmly committed to international law, established norms, and a rules-based multilateral order.

"While this system is not without shortcomings, it endures as a vital framework for global cooperation. Kenya will therefore continue to consistently and resolutely champion the multilateral reform agenda," he said.

Mudavadi, who also serves as cabinet secretary for foreign and diaspora affairs, said the current global turbulence calls for deeper regional integration and stronger multilateral cooperation to address multiple challenges, including persistent threats to peace and security, the triple planetary crisis, and humanitarian emergencies.

He said Kenya's participation in the African Union (AU) Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) underscores its commitment to securing lasting peace in Somalia, while also responding to cross-border threats posed by al-Shabab.

Mudavadi called for predictable and sustainable international financing for AUSSOM, along with robust logistical support and force enablers to strengthen the mission's operational capacity.

On the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mudavadi noted that Kenyan President William Ruto and his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa co-chaired a high-level meeting in Nairobi in August that endorsed the merger of the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes under the AU's leadership.

"Lasting peace in the eastern DRC requires a long-term, multifaceted strategy that integrates security, governance, economic revitalization, and social cohesion, while safeguarding human rights," he said.

The prime cabinet secretary stressed that Kenya believes in an African Union equipped with strong mechanisms to address peace, security, and governance challenges, particularly at a time when the global order is facing unprecedented strain and collective action is at its weakest.

Regarding Haiti, he said notable progress has been made since the deployment of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission, despite challenges, including the loss of security personnel.

"Kenya remains fully committed to the mission's success and continues to appeal for adequate and predictable financial resources, equipment, and logistical support from the international community," he said.

Mudavadi reaffirmed Kenya's unwavering commitment to multilateralism as the most effective path to tackling complex global challenges.

"Guided by our national priorities, we shall continue to forge partnerships that advance peace, security, sustainable development, and shared prosperity," he added. ■