The United States of America and Kenya has signed a five-year defense agreement to strengthen counterterrorism efforts in East Africa.
The agreement signed between the two countries on Monday will support Kenya’s efforts to take the lead in a security mission to Haiti.
The U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin praised what he called the “strong relationship” between the U.S. and Kenyan forces as he met with troops from the two countries at Camp Simba in Manda Bay, Kenya.
“You are a model of interoperability. You’re working side-by-side every day, taking care of each other, supporting each other and you’re working on some very important issues of security,” Austin said.
Austin said the United States is “grateful to Kenya for its leadership in tackling security challenges in the region and around the world” and thanked the country for its willingness to take the lead of a multinational security force to combat gang violence in Haiti.
He said the Biden administration would work with Congress to secure the $100 million in funding that it pledged for the Haiti mission last week on the sidelines of the U.N General Assembly.
“The United States stands ready to support that important mission by providing robust financial and logistical assistance,” he said.
Austin urged other nations to follow Kenya’s example and provide more personnel, equipment, support, training, and funding for the planned multi-national security mission to Haiti.
Kenya has pledged to send 1,000 security officers to Haiti to counter gang violence that has surged since the July 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.
The Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry in last October requested for the security mission, which was yet to be approved by the U.N. Security Council.
Source: VOA
