MALABO, Equatorial Guinea,
Kenya has called on African countries to join hands to stem the rising tide of terrorism in the continent.
Foreign
Affairs secretary Amina Mohamed said African governments must start to
share intelligence information and stem the growth of rebel groups
within their jurisdictions by ensuring their supply of arms is
effectively stopped.
She also said each government must start setting aside resources to fight the scourge.
The
cabinet secretary was speaking on the sidelines of the 25th Ordinary
Session of the Executive Council of the African Union currently underway
in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
The Executive Council
session will be followed by the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African
Union summit, which is the top organ of heads of state and government.
“It
is not enough to just condemn without following it with actions aimed
at stemming terrorism wherever it may be found. A lot more commitment is
needed especially resources to fight it,” said Ms Mohamed.
COMMON APPROACH
Ms
Mohamed said Kenya had borne the brunt of terror meted against its
citizens and will henceforth push for Africa states to take a common
approach in addressing the menace.
“The countries of
Africa have to come together on this matter. There is no way an
individual country can single-handedly win the war on terror. We must
start to ask some hard question: Where are these people getting support
from.
"Kenya, for example, does not manufacture or
sell arms. Where are these people getting these things? These are
questions that must be addressed in a concerted manner if we are to deal
with the root course of terror,” said Ms Mohamed.
During
the opening session, the Africa Union's chairperson Nkososana Dlamini
Zuma condemned acts of terror that have occurred in Kenya, Nigeria and
Somalia.
"We strongly condemn acts of terrorism in
Kenya, Nigeria and Libya. The abduction of young school girls in Nigeria
by armed militants should be a wakeup call on the need to strengthen
vigilance," Dlamini-Zuma remarked.
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