A defense pact was struck between the United States and Kenya on Monday to bolster counterterrorism initiatives in East Africa and back Kenya's ambitions to take the lead in a security mission to Haiti.

The five-year agreement was formally signed on Monday in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Kenya's Defense Minister Aden Duale.


According to Austin, the United States is "grateful to Kenya for its leadership in tackling security challenges in the region and around the world," he complimented it for its willingness to take the helm of a multinational security operation to tackle gang violence in Haiti.

He said that cooperation with Congress will secure the $100 million in funds that the Biden administration promised for the Haiti mission last week on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

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He said, "The United States stands ready to support that important mission by offering robust financial and logistical assistance."

Following the signing of a bilateral defense cooperation agreement, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, center left, his Kenyan counterpart Aden Duale, center right, and others pose for a picture in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 25, 2023.


Austin asked other countries to follow Kenya's lead and increase their workforce, supplies, funds, assistance, and training contributions to Haiti's proposed international security operation.

Since the killing of Haitian President Jovenel Mose in July 2021, gang violence has increased significantly in Haiti. Kenya has promised to send 1,000 security agents there to combat this. Ariel Henry, Haiti's prime minister, requested the security mission in October of last year; the United Nations Security Council has not yet authorized the request.



On September 24, 2023, in Djibouti City, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pose for a picture. (@SecDef)

Austin congratulated American troops at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti before leaving on Monday for Nairobi, praising their "very impressive" participation in the April evacuation of American diplomats from Sudan.

"This building is significant. After the 9/11 attacks, we established a capacity here to aid in our fight against violent extremist groups, according to Austin.

Since the president proclaimed "total war" against the extremists in August 2022, the Somalian army and affiliated clan militias have driven al-Shabab fighters out of central Somalia as part of the nation's military offensive.



However, terrorists continue to target Somali security personnel. On Saturday, a vehicle explosion in the central Somali town of Beledweyne left 21 people dead and 52 others injured. Security personnel were investigating the truck after receiving information about it when it exploded, according to Beledweyne District Commissioner Omar Osman Alasow, speaking to VOA.