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Kenya has called on Cyprus to put the fight against the militant group Al Shabaab at the top of its agenda when it assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in early 2026. The appeal was made by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi while speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. He stressed that the international community is slowly turning away from the crisis in Somalia as attention shifts to other conflicts, warning that this could undo hard-won progress in the region.
Mudavadi explained that Kenya and other frontline states have carried the greatest responsibility in dealing with Al Shabaab, yet support from global partners is shrinking. He described the situation as dangerous, noting that Kenya has about 3,000 troops currently serving in Somalia under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). These forces have been central in stabilizing large parts of Somalia, preventing Al Shabaab from regaining ground. But Mudavadi cautioned that if Kenya were to withdraw its forces, a serious security vacuum would emerge, one that very few international players appear ready to fill.
The problem is compounded by the severe financial strain facing Somalia’s stabilization efforts. The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, which is supposed to take over from ATMIS, is struggling to raise funds. Its estimated annual budget stands at $166.5 million, yet pledges so far total just $16.7 million. This leaves a massive shortfall that threatens to derail operations. Although the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2719 to create a framework for future budget support, implementation has stalled. The gap between Somalia’s security needs and the available resources remains dangerously wide.
Mudavadi’s message was clear: unless the international community renews its commitment, recent gains in Somalia risk being rolled back. He urged European partners to play a more active role, especially as Cyprus prepares to take on the EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2026. Kenya believes this will be a critical moment to put Somalia back on the global security agenda and to remind the world that stability in the Horn of Africa is not just a regional concern but a global one.
He emphasized that Kenya has long been on the frontlines, not only by sending troops but also by dealing with the human cost of terrorism, including attacks within its own borders. This sacrifice, he said, should not go unnoticed or unsupported. By appealing to Cyprus, Kenya is seeking to rally the EU to provide stronger political, financial, and logistical backing for Somalia’s security transition.
Cyprus will be assuming the EU presidency for the second time since 2012, and while the role rotates among member states, it provides an opportunity to shape priorities for the entire bloc. For Kenya, that moment in 2026 could be decisive in ensuring that the fight against Al Shabaab does not fade from the world’s attention. As Mudavadi pointed out, ignoring Somalia now could mean paying a far greater price later, not just for East Africa but for global peace and stability.