Monday, January 07, 2008
KENYAN President Mwai Kibaki, facing deadly riots over flawed re-election, received rare goodwill messages on Saturday from a war-torn nation and two tiny kingdoms.
Although several Western leaders have condemned Kibaki’s re-election and African counterparts remained quiet, the leaders of Somalia, Kuwait and Swaziland have joined Uganda in congratulating the 76-year-old Kibaki.
In his message, Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah hoped for improved ties in Kibaki’s second term, the Kenyan foreign ministry announced in a statement.
“It is my pleasure to express to you my sincere congratulations on the occasion of your winning the presidential election for a new mandate term,” al-Sabah said.
Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed said Kibaki’s re-election came at a time when Kenyan leadership and international solidarity must be put at the service of securing regional peace, security and prosperity.
“Towards this end, both our countries must remain strong partners on the global war on terror and steadfast allies in protecting freedom,” Yusuf added.
Absalom Themba Dlamini, the prime minister of the kingdom of Swaziland, wished Kibaki good health and hoped peace prevails in the east African nation.
“Cordial relations which have always existed between our countries will continue to be enhanced and strengthened in the years to come for the mutual benefit of our nations and peoples,” Dlamini added.
Dlamini wished Kibaki “continued good health, as well as peace and prosperity for the people of the Republic of Kenya”.
The US was the first nation to congratulate Kibaki on his re-election but later withdrew the message in the face of allegations of rigging and nationwide unrest.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who was accused of poll malpractices in his 2006 re-election, on Thursday congratulated Kibaki.
Violence exploded in Kenya last Sunday after the country’s electoral panel declared Kibaki winner of hotly contested December 27 elections, but his main rival, opposition chief Raila Odinga, said the result was fixed.
Since then, at least 361 people have been killed, while the violence has displaced at least 250,000 Kenyans across the country as UN agencies and local aid groups struggle to stem the humanitarian crisis.
Kibaki on Saturday offered to form a national unity government in a bid to defuse the violence, but Odinga stood by his demands for him to resign to pave the way for dialogue.
Source: AFP, Jan 07, 2008