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Obama East African visit enhanced security co-operation

Saturday July 25 2015

President Barack Obama’s visit to East Africa enhanced bilateral relations with regional countries, especially Kenya and Ethiopia, key partners in the war against terror.

Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States on a Security Governance Initiative-Joint Country Action Plan. The visit enabled Kenya and Ethiopia to engage the US on the increased security threats from the Somalia-based militants Al Shabaab.

The SGI-JCA includes the Co-operation in Threat Reduction Biological Engagement Programmes Agreement, which aims at facilitating efforts to reduce the threat from naturally occurring diseases, biological attacks or unintentional release of biological pathogens and toxins and the risks posed by non-state actors of engaging in bioterrorism.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Amina Mohamed said the MoU was the conclusion of lengthy negotiations and a demonstration of the desire to strengthen existing ties.

“The Joint Country Action Plan will contribute to better border management, enhanced capacity for police human-resource management and effective administration of justice in Kenya,” she said.

Security remained top on the agenda of President Obama’s engagement with East African leaders.

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Besides assistance in modern technology on security, the US provides training to Kenyan civilian and military forces on counterterrorism while Kenya is one of the leading recipients of US foreign assistance on security.

In his address to the nation on Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta noted that there is close co-operation with the US and that the war on terror would be central to his talks with President Obama.

That is why President Obama’s visit to Addis Ababa after Nairobi will focus on how Ethiopia is dealing with the increased threats of Al Shabaab as a frontline state, plus a visit to the African Union.

President Obama had, prior to his arrival in Nairobi, declared that his fifth visit to Africa indicated that the US is a strong partner not just for Kenya but for sub-Saharan Africa in general.

The visit to the region is a follow-up to the US-Africa summit in Washington last year, in which the Obama administration focused on trade and investment in Africa and highlighted America’s commitment to Africa’s security and the continent’s democratic development.

Countries in the East African region such as Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia secured pledges of US assistance on security.

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