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Kenya, Germany vow to curb financing of terror activities

Xinhua, February 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Kenya and Germany on Sunday vowed to put in place measures to stem the flow of funds into Kenya for terrorism activities.

Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Amina Mohamed told journalists in Nairobi that most refugees in Kenya are heavily dependent on remittances from outside Africa.

"We will work with the international community to ensure that the funds being remitted to Kenya go to the right beneficiaries and are not diverted to fund terrorist activities," Mohamed said during a joint briefing with visiting German Foreign Minister Walter-Frank Steinmeier.

Mohamed said there is no reason to stop the flow of remittances into Kenya due to the negative impact that it will have on the refugees. She added that the realization of peace and security in the Horn of Africa is a key priority for Kenya.

Her remarks came barely a week after U.S. principal bank facilitating money transfers to Somalia discontinued services over terrorism fears.

Aid agencies have warned that a humanitarian crisis looms following the move by banks in Australia, U.S., Britain and elsewhere to cut ties with the money transfer operators that make remittances possible to Somalia.

Each year, Somalis living abroad send approximately 1.3 billion U.S. dollars back to Somalia in an incredible show of solidarity to help friends and relatives meet their immediate needs, including water, food, shelter and medicine.

These remittance payments also help support numerous businesses and represent more than all foreign aid and investment in Somalia combined. Experts estimate that over 200 million dollars is at stake with this decision.

During the meeting, Mohamed lauded Germany for the pledge of 90 million U.S. dollars to assist the Somali peace process as well as the support provided to the South Sudan peace process.

Mohamed also acknowledged contribution of Germany to peace and security initiatives in Kenya which has faced threats from Somali militants Al-Shabaab in the recent past.

She assured the German people of adequate security for investors in the country and encouraged more tourists into the country.

Steinmeier said his country will maintain strict financial controls to ensure that remittances from Germany are not used to fund terror activities anywhere in the world. Endi