Kenya and Algeria reaffirm ties, back peacekeeping in Haiti, Gaza

Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi with his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf. [Musalia Mudavadi/X]

Kenya and Algeria have reaffirmed their strong political and diplomatic ties and their strategic partnership on the African continent.

This was the message conveyed by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi during a meeting with his Algeria counterpart Ahmed Attaf, on the sidelines of the 19th Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Uganda on Thursday.

Mudavadi expressed the country's gratitude for Algeria's political and financial support for the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, a peacekeeping initiative.

He also affirmed Kenya's commitment to spearhead international efforts to restore peace and stability in the Caribbean nation.

Attaf on his part pledged Algeria's continued collaboration with Kenya on Haiti peacekeeping mission.

Parliament approved the deployment of a thousand police officers to Haiti on Thursday November 16, 2023.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the conflict between Israel and Hamas and jointly urged for the de-escalation of hostilities and the end of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

They emphasized the need for a two-state solution, in line with the UN declaration, as the only viable way to resolve the conflict.

At the same time, the two leaders discussed the threat of terrorism and extremism in Africa, especially in the Sahel region, where armed and extremist groups, some affiliated with terrorist organizations like ISIS, pose a serious challenge to security and development.

Mudavadi stressed the importance of concerted efforts to combat terrorism, citing Kenya's own security concerns due to groups like Al-Shabab.