By PSCU
Nairobi, Kenya: The African Union has commended Kenya’s role in promoting peace, security and stability.
African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security Mr Smail Chergui said Kenya’s commitment to peace, security and stability on the continent was exemplary.
“It is glowingly actualized by its intervention in Somalia within the framework of the African Union Mission (AMISOM), its peacekeeping role within IGAD and most recently its accession to the Regional Oversight Mechanism on the implementation of Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region,” Mr. Chergui said.
He spoke at State House, Nairobi on Saturday when he accompanied East African Ministers of Defence for a courtesycall on President Uhuru Kenyatta.
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The ministers are in the country to attend the 16th Ordinary Session of the Council of East African Ministers of Defence and Security.
Mr Chergui noted that during its tenure as member of the AU Peace and Security Council, from 2010 to April 2012, Kenya played a leading role in providing guidance to the council, enhancing its capacity to efficiently discharge its mandate of promoting peace, security and stability on the continent.
He praised President Kenyatta’s contribution of $ 1 million (SH 86 million) towards the African Peace Fund at the end of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly late January.
“This financial contribution by the Republic of Kenya is timely and should be emulated by other AU member states,” the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security said.
He appealed to other AU member states to make additional financial contribution to the Peace Fund to reduce external donor dependency and boost AU’s capacity to promote African solutions to the continent’s problems.
President Kenyatta pledged his support to the standby force, saying it was important for Africans to help solve their own problems.
“As Africans, we must be able to come to the aid of fellow Africans whenever they face serious challenges, including violent conflicts,” the President said.
He added: “We cannot always rely on the mercy and attention of the foreign powers. We must show that we have come of age and that Africa is rising.”
The meeting was attended by ministers of defence Gaciyubwege Pontien of Burundi, Hamada Madi of Comoros, Siraj Fegessa of Ethiopia, James Kabarebe of Rwanda and Raychelle Omamo of Kenya.
Djibouti was represented by Col. Youssouf Kayad Guelleh, Seychelles by Amb. Barry Faure while Sudan’s Defence Minister was represented by Lt. Gen. Imad Adawi.
