Kenya to withdraw its troops from Somalia in 2024

By Ericson Mangoli
President William Ruto has announced that Kenya will begin withdrawing Kenya Defence Forces from Somalia in 2024. This move will enable Somalia to stabilise, with a planned reduction in the number of troops in the country.
The KDF was previously deployed to Somalia on 16 October, 2011 with Kenya joining other nations in pursuing the insurgency group known as Al Shabaab. Under the new plan, nations are working together in order to support Somalia before the troops are fully withdrawn.
President Ruto made this announcement during the launching of the State of Migration in East and Horn of Africa Report at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. Addressing the attendees, he said, “We are working with our brothers and sisters in Somalia. Even as the drawdown of the troops is expected by next year, we have a concrete plan on how Somalia is going to move on as a state.”
Kenya’s plans for a withdrawal are based on a desire to help Somalia move forward in its own rebuilding process. The country has faced struggles as a result of civil war and insurgence, and Kenya’s departure will help Somalia adjust to self-reliance and abundance.
The KDF’s eventual departure will also help remedy any effects that may have occurred as a result of its presence in Somalia. At present, Kenya is focused on ensuring that its troops have a peaceful withdrawal and leave the country in a stable condition.
Furthermore, the plan is part of a greater peace agreement between the African nations and nearby territories. As a result, the process may have a positive impact on the overall stability of the region, desiring an end to wars and insurgency.
In a nutshell, Kenya is making a plan to pull out of Somalia in order to help the country with its rebuilding process post-war. The withdrawal is part of a greater plan to incorporate peace into the region, allowing for the stabilisation of all nations and territories. With the plan scheduled for 2024.
In 2012, Kenya’s troops were deployed in Somalia to establish peace and stability. It was the former President Mwai Kibaki’s regime that first deployed KDF troops to Somalia in an effort to help restore peace in the region. After a month, the Kenyan government agreed to work under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
The agreement was further formalised after the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2036. This resolution called for AMISOM’s support in enhancing security in Somalia by deploying 12,000 international personnel — staff, military, and police — to bolster the security capacity of the government.
KDF had a vital role to play, and their efforts in Somalia helped to reduce violence and contain insecurity in the region. KDF soldiers also helped to evacuate 409 Kenyans from Somalia and successfully returned them back to their homes in Kenya.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ruto also expressed his support for the mission, vowing to back the efforts of the KDF troops. He encouraged political stability in both Sudan and the Democratic Republic Congo, pushing for peace agreements between warring factions. He warned generals in Sudan not to destroy the hard work in developing their countries but to support peace efforts that help to return political stability.
KDF troops have since then been a paramount part of the peace process in Somalia and Kibakia’s regime deserves due credit in recognizing this crucial mission and deploying the KDF soldiers. The efforts of the KDF have gone a long way in helping to bring peace, security and stability back into somalia.