Nigeria, Kenya to fight terrorism in Africa

Nigeria and Kenya have agreed to work together to combat terrorism in Africa.
President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday told the Kenyan Deputy Prime Minister and Special Envoy of President Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto, that Nigeria was concerned about the activities of terrorists in Somalia and other places in Africa and the attendant negative effects on peace and development in the continent.
“I have just declared a state of emergency in three states of our country to check the havoc of terrorists,” Jonathan stated, adding: “So I can appreciate the issues confronting Somalia and Kenya.”
President Jonathan said Africa needs to find a collective solution to the problems of Somalia and suggested a meeting of leaders on the sidelines of the African Union 50th Anniversary Summit, scheduled to hold next week.
On bilateral level, President Jonathan told the Kenyan Deputy Prime Minister that Nigeria and Kenya had a lot to gain from stronger mutual relations and assured him of necessary cooperation in this regard.
Speaking earlier, Ruto told President Jonathan that President Kenyatta requested Nigeria’s intervention to help find an African solution to the Somalia problem, which had spilled into Kenya.
“Nigeria plays a leadership role in Africa, and Kenya needs you to join other leaders for a framework to help resolve the Somalia problem,” he said, adding that President Jonathan’s personal intervention would help.
Ruto also spoke about improving relations through extending Kenya Airways flights to Abuja as well as Kenya’s commitment to enhancing intra-African trade.