President Uhuru Kenyatta has said that Kenya’s decision to withdraw from the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan was a protest against the violation of the dignity of Kenya’s soldiers.
The President said the United Nations acted in an undignified manner when it replaced the Kenyan officer who was heading the UNMISS.
He said the UN did not also respect Kenya’s sovereignty when it took the unilateral decision to which Kenya has responded by withdrawing its soldiers from the mission.
President Kenyatta pointed out that Kenya has always participated in UN peacekeeping missions in many volatile countries across the world and has always received commendations.
“Our soldiers have served in many countries and with distinction,” said the President. He cited how Kenyan soldiers performed in Namibia, East Timor, Yugoslavia and many other missions.
The President said the UN was using the Kenyan officer as a fall guy for the structural and systematic shortcomings of the peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.
“We took the decision to withdraw from the mission to protect the dignity and pride of our men and women in uniform. We feel strongly that the decision by the UN was unfair,” said the President.
President Kenyatta however made it clear that Kenya will forever stand by South Sudan as it has done over the years.
The President said he had a phone conversation with President Salva Kiir on Wednesday night to assure him that Kenya will continue working with the people of South Sudan.
“Our history with South Sudan speaks for itself. No one can doubt Kenya’s commitment to the independence and stability of South Sudan,” said the President.
He said Kenya will continue engaging with and supporting South Sudan at the bilateral level and through the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the East African Community (EAC).
“As much as we are disengaging from the UN mission, we are engaged with South Sudan at the bilateral level. Kenya will continue engaging South Sudan through the EAC, IGAD and the AU,” said the President.
He said the unilateral decision taken by the UN draws attention to the need to reform the United Nations systems.
“That is why we must under the umbrella of the C10 (AU Committee of 10), continue working for UN reforms,” said President.
He said every country that is a member of the UN deserves respect no matter their size of strength.
The President spoke at State House, Nairobi, during a gathering of African diplomats.
The event was used by President Kenyatta to formally launch Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amb Amina Mohamed’s candidature to become the African Union chairperson.
By PSCU.