Roundup: Kenya, Algeria vow to cooperate on regional peace, development

Kenya and Algeria have resolved to work together in accelerating development as well as jointly combat terrorism and work at peace building in their respective regions.

A statement issued on Friday after the arrival of President Uhuru Kenyatta from a three-day state visit to Algeria, said the two countries will continue championing peace in their regions: Kenya in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region while Algeria will champion in North Africa and Sahel region.

"We had the opportunity to review the status of cooperation in different fields, and to assert our commitment to further enhancing them by establishing mutually beneficial cooperation programs, including strategic consultations, sharing of intelligence, stronger defence, security and economic partnerships, in the best interest of the two countries," Kenyatta said.

Kenyatta, who arrived on Thursday night from Algiers, said the visit was part of his effort to promote people-to-people interaction and boost intra-Africa trade, peace and development across the continent.

During the visit, Kenyatta held talks with his host President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and Mohamed Larbi Ould Khelifa, Speaker of the People's National Assembly.

Kenyatta said his meetings with the Algerian leaders solidified cooperation between the two countries.

"We discussed many areas of cooperation including dealing with security threats our countries are facing. Algeria is facing security challenges emanating from Libya and Mali while Kenya is experiencing a similar situation from unstable Somalia and South Sudan," he said.

The two leaders appealed to the international community for humanitarian assistance needed to alleviate the suffering of over two million internally displaced people in South Sudan.

Kenyatta also briefed President Bouteflika on the situation in Somalia where they reiterated their commitment to supporting Somalia's state-building and reconciliation process, especially as regards to the country's Vision 2016.

The leaders committed to deepen bilateral security co-operation to combat the full spectrum of terrorist threats so as to enhance the security of their citizens and the entire continent. They condemned terrorism and reaffirmed the need for joint and concerted effort to disrupt and degrade transnational terrorism.

Kenyatta noted that they shared same views on a wide range of regional and international issues and recognized the important role that both countries play in promoting peace, stability and security in their respective regions and on the African continent. They agreed to share information and consult more on regional and global issues.

"The visit reflects the interest of both Heads of State in strengthening the bonds of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the two countries. It also expresses the common will of both leaders to give new impetus to Algeria-Kenya relations," said Kenya's Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed.

Kenyatta also lauded the international mediation efforts led by Algeria with a view to reaching a final and lasting settlement to the Malian crisis.

The two presidents emphasized the need to maintain the unity and territorial integrity of the country and called on the international community to support Mali's social and economic development.

Kenyatta emphasized that trade was the key driver of economic growth and poverty alleviation in Africa. He said Kenya and Algeria has agreed to accelerate the creation of mechanisms for exchanging trade information and promotion for the two countries to realize their full trading potentials. "We also discussed how we can cooperate in areas of oil and gas given the Algeria's experience in this field," Kenyatta said. "We can cooperate more in that sector and also in the sector of renewable energy as well as the environmental matters." Endi