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Kenya, Jordan forces launch joint drill in Kenya

Xinhua, September 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Kenya Defense Forces and their Jordanian counterpart on Tuesday commenced a joint drill in Kenya aimed at boosting their response to security threats like terrorism and transnational crimes.

Speaking during the launch of the joint drill dubbed Exercise Swift Eagle in the capital Nairobi, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Defense, Raychelle Omamo, said defense cooperation between Kenya and Jordan was timely to help boost action on new security challenges.

The nine-day military exercise will focus on sharing of knowledge and skills in combating security challenges.

Omamo said that both Kenya and Jordan had suffered terrorist attacks and were facing security threats linked to the influx of refugees from war-torn neighbours.

She added that the joint drill will strengthen their response to violent extremism and civil strife.

"Collaborative responses must be forged to mitigate common security threats. In this regard, cooperation between Kenyan and Jordanian forces will enhance sharing of knowledge and skills to contain these threats," said Omamo.

She revealed that Kenya had signed a defense cooperation pact with Jordan that focuses on joint training.

Kenya has been facing a threat from Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militants since its troops entered Somalia in 2011 to battle the Islamist group as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia. Endit