President Uhuru Kenyatta and his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma last evening agreed to strengthen the partnerships between the two countries on matters of security , trade, investment and industrialization.
The two agreed there was much more to be gained through partnership including creation of employment for the youth, integration of the East African community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the war on terrorism.
“We stand to gain more if we work together”, said President Kenyatta.
The two presidents agreed to jointly tackle the menace of terrorism and radicalization through sharing of information.
“We must reinforce the message that, as Africa, we shall act together at all attempts to hit at us,” said President Zuma on terrorism attacks by Al-Shabaab militia in Kenya.
President Zuma said there is need for improved co-operation in security matters and terror. “Africa must resolve to firmly deal with terrorism”, he said.
The two leaders met at the Official Residence of the President of South Africa, Mahlamba Ndlopfu, in Pretoria when President Kenyatta paid the South African leader a courtesy call on arrival in SA last evening.
President Kenyatta is today scheduled to open the 6th Ordinary Session of the Third Parliament of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) at Midrand.
The courtesy call is the first official meeting between the two leaders since President Kenyatta assumed office more than two years ago.
The two leaders admitted youth unemployment in the two countries is a major challenge that needs to be addressed urgently especially through creation of jobs and industrialization.
On the Burundi crisis, both Presidents Zuma and Kenyatta reiterated the position of the East African Community (EAC) position taken four days ago in Dar-es-Salaam to postpone elections within the mandate of the current government.
President Kenyatta said he had talked to Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza twice in the last 24 hours while President Zuma today’s proceeds to Angola for the International Conference on the Great Lakes region (ICGLR) summit convened by Angola over the Burundi crisis.
President Kenyatta and Zuma said the peace processes over Burundi are aimed at containing the crisis from getting worse.
