US army delegation at Defense Headquarters. Photo/KDF/Twitter]
United States Special Operations Commander General Richard Clarke on Friday visited the country where he was hosted by Defense Secretary Raychelle Omamo.
General Clarke’s visit comes amid increased Al-Shabaab threat in the country, compounded by attacks targeting security forces especially at the North Eastern Kenya. Details about the meeting between the two along with Chief of Defense Forces General Samson Mwathethe could not be established immediately. However, US has been collaborating with KDF, offering training through US Africa Command partnership both in the country and Somalia.
“Gen Richard Clarke, Commander US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) on Friday 01 November 2019 paid a courtesy call to the CS Defence Ambassador Raychelle Omamo and the Chief of the Defence Forces Gen Samson Mwathethe at the Defence Headquarters,” KDF said. His trip comes months after Kenya failed to officially have Al-Shabaab blacklisted as terrorist group under UN resolution 1267, a move that US and Somalia objected. The two nations claimed that blacklisting Al-Shabaab would interfere with humanitarian aide within Somalia, a move that could create a crisis.
“We are disappointed because it seems unconscionable that any country, least of all a country that is in the UN Security Council, and that has lost its citizens in the terror attacks of Al-Shabaab, would not wish to see all necessary measures brought to bear on this hideous organisation,”
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau told the Nation. But recently, Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti revealed Kenya’s plans to have the group officially designed as a terrorist group.
“Kenya continues to push for Al-Shabaab to be declared a terrorist organization,” he said.
Source: Hivisasa