This archive report was first published on 9 August 2019.
On August 9, 2019, a group of former top US State Department officials and humanitarian figures urged the United States to block Kenya's bid at the UN Security Council to have Al Shabaab blacklisted as a terrorist group.
The proposal, if approved, could jeopardize life-saving relief efforts in Somalia, as it would put the lives of hundreds of thousands of people at risk without any discernible impact on the challenge posed by Al Shabaab.
Eric Schwartz, the head of Refugees International NGO, stated, "The proposal would put the lives of hundreds of thousands at risk without discernible impact on the challenge posed by al-Shabaab."
Kenya launched a diplomatic offensive at the UN last week, with Foreign Affairs PS Macharia Kamau saying that the addition of Al Shabaab to the al-Qaeda/ISIL sanctions category would focus "global efforts in tackling the group."
However, the US has already placed a temporary hold on the Kenyan initiative, which expires on August 29, and opponents of the proposed Shabaab listing are urging the US to block the move altogether.
