EU Parliament votes to aid Kenya fight terrorism

The European Union (EU) Parliament has voted to supply Kenya with military aid to bolster the war against Al-Shabaab.

The Somalia-based terror group has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in the country, including the recent killing of 148 people at Garissa University College. Seventy-nine others were injured. In an overwhelming vote, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) asked the EU to equip the Kenyan army and police to help fight the militants.

In a resolution passed by 578 votes to 31, with 34 abstentions, MEPs also demanded that a military training mission be launched in Kenya by the European countries to boost the war against the terror group. They also strongly condemned the April 2 terror attack on Garissa University College, where a majority of those killed were Christians, and also conveyed their condolences to the families of the victims and the people Kenya.

"MEPs advocate setting up an EU military training mission in Kenya and supplying Kenya's military and police forces with modern equipment and training to fight terrorism and prevent the expansion of Al-Shabaab," said a press release from the parliament's external relations department.

They described the belated response by Kenyan police to the Garissa attack as "regrettable".

Ensure stability

According to the legislators, the EU should also mobilise resources to help ensure peace and stability in Kenya and the region.

"This should be done in co-operation with the African Union and the EU should also consider recourse to the African Peace Facility," they said.

They urged the EU to address the persecution of Christians and other religious communities as a priority, in collaboration with churches and other religious organisations.

"MEPs note that the attackers in Garissa singled out Christian students and that Al-Shabaab openly and publicly claims to be waging war on Christians. Christians are the most persecuted religious group, with more than 150,000 killed every year, and attacks against them have risen tremendously in recent months," they said.

They also rejected misinterpretations of Islam to legitimise the extermination of Christians, and urged Muslim leaders to assist the Government fight extremism. The MEPs urged the Kenya Government to target only perpetrators in the war against terrorism and not the entire Muslim community.