By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, November 14 -- Kenya's action in Somalia has been discussed on the margins of the UN Security Council and with its President for November -- but not in any formal Council meeting.
Kenya's Ambassador to the UN Macharia Kamau is reported to have "urged the Council to assist in deployment of African Union (Amisom) troops to areas dominated by the al-Shabaab."
But when Inner City Press asked a Permanent Member of the Security Council about this Kenya request, the answer was "maybe he said it to Ambassador Cabral" of Portugal, November's president.
Inner City Press asked Cabral, who said what had been discussed was "re-hatting" the Kenyan troops in southern Somalia as part of the AMISON force -- and having the UN pay them. Cabral was dubious this would be accepted.
Kenyan Ambassador Kamau also said he is "still pushing for Security Council members to initiate a naval blockade of Kismayu."
Inner City Press asked Cabral if this meant a block on traffic which Al Shabaab is reportedly taxing. Cabral said he understood the request to only be enforcement of the arms embargo.
But since Kenya has complained that al Shabaab gets its revenue by taxing goods in the port, Inner City Press also asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky if Ban or his envoy Augustine Mahiga have any comment on the call to blockade a port, as could relate to civilians.
Nesirky said he would check, just as he has said without further follow up to previous Inner City Press questions on Somalia.
When will the Security Council openly address and discuss Kenya's cross border move into Somalia? If it doesn't, how can it criticize other cross border moves? Watch this site.