U.S., Kenyan leaders pledge to cooperate on refugee issue

U.S. President Barack Obama and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday agreed to work closely to address the refugee issue in the African country.

In a telephone talk, the two leaders discussed the challenges Kenya faces in hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees for more than two decades and the need for strong international support, the White House said in a statement.

Citing "very heavy economic, security and environmental burden," Kenya announced in May plans to close Dadaab refugee camp, the world's largest human settlement sheltering more than 350,000 refugees from Somalia.

Members of the United Nations Security Council have urged Kenyatta to reconsider the repatriation of Somalia refugees, saying the move could jeopardize regional peace and security.

In the telephone conversation, Kenyatta reiterated that Kenya will continue to respect the dignity and safety of refugees in Kenya and comply with its international legal obligations, according to the White House.

Obama reiterated his appreciation for the strong partnership between Kenya and the U.S. on a host of issues, including combatting global terrorism and noted the progress Kenya has made on security.

Kenya claims Somalia-based Islamist group Al-Shabaab, which has staged several bloody attacks in Kenya in recent years, has hideouts in Dadaab.

It is not yet clear when the closure of Dadaab will begin, but the Kenyan government has disbanded its Department of Refugee Affairs, which worked with humanitarian organizations for the welfare of the refugees. Endit