This archive report was first published on 23 October 2021.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has pledged to support regional efforts to counter the insurgency in Mozambique, a move that could effectively mean a bloc-to-bloc support to end the scourge of violence in the southern African country.
At a meeting with his Malawian counterpart Lazarus Chakwera in Nairobi on October 21, 2021, Kenyatta said Mozambique's situation is an overall concern for the continent, and expressed his support for regional efforts to counter the violence.
Dr Chakwera, the current Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), was on a three-day state visit to Nairobi, his first official trip to the city since he took power in 2020. The visit was significant because his bloc recently sent troops to Mozambique to combat the insurgency fuelled by a group colloquially known as Al-Shabaab, but not related to the Somali terror group of the same name.
Neutralising threats ¶
“Kenya is concerned with the current situation in Mozambique. In this regard, Kenya commends and supports the steps taken by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), under your able chairmanship, of working with Mozambique in neutralizing the terrorist threats in that country,” Kenyatta told his guest, during a bilateral meeting at State House.
As friends of Mozambique, we stand ready to support your efforts,” Kenyatta added.
The two leaders also vowed to support Africa’s “strategic partnerships”, identifying insecurity and targeted expansion of regional trade as key areas of cooperation.
It is with this background that Kenya remains committed to working with Malawi in the realisation of the East African Community-Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa-Southern African Development Community Free Trade Areas as well as the Africa Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA),” Kenyatta added.
