By PPS
Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete has supported Kenya’s decision to invoke Article 51 of the United Nations Charter to defend its economic and security interests against Al Shaabab insurgents.
President Kikwete said Kenya is justified in taking action against the militants who have blatantly violated its territorial integrity through escalated cross-border raids.
He pledged his country’s commitment to support efforts by Kenya, Igad, East African Community, African Union and the international community to stabilise the entire Horn of Africa.
The Tanzanian leader, who is in Perth, Australia, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit, was speaking when he paid a courtesy call on President Kibaki at his hotel.
The meeting followed an earlier briefing by President Kibaki to an executive session of the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government on Kenya’s military operation against Al Shabaab.
During the session, President Kibaki maintained that Kenya was not at war with Somalia, but is carrying out military action against the Islamic militia, which is a non-state actor.
The Tanzanian leader, at the same time, joined other world leaders in calling for tougher action against piracy in the Indian Ocean, which increases the costs of international trade.
Earlier, at a forum on Indian Ocean Piracy held on the sidelines of the summit, participants observed that piracy is rife off the coast of Somalia, and is spreading to other regions around Africa.
The leaders noted that pirates attacked a record number of ships worldwide in the first nine months of this year, but are taking off with fewer vessels due to better policing.
