Kenya may review Eritrea ties over Shabaab
By Gadiola Emanuel - 7:49:00 AM
Eritrea ambassador to Kenya Beyene Russom and Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula at the Ministry's offices in Nairobi November 04, 2011. Mr Russom was summoned over claims that his country is arming Somalia militia Al-Shabaab.
Kenya is not ruling out reviewing its relationship with Eritrea after allegations that Asmara was arming the Al Shabaab insurgents in Somalia.
Eritrean envoy to Kenya Beyene Russom was Friday summoned to a closed door meeting with top foreign ministry officials including Foreign minister Moses Wetangula, permanent secretary Thuita Mwangi and Secretary for Political and Diplomatic Affairs Patrick Wamoto.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Mr Wetangula said Kenya was not ruling out “reviewing diplomatic ties” with Eritrea – a term that could loosely translate to severing ties - if the Horn of Africa state fails to give satisfactory explanations.
Kenya along with IGAD and Africa Union, the minister added, would also support enhanced sanctions against Eritrea which has been identified as a destabilising force in the region.
However, Eritrea has chosen to send their foreign minister to Nairobi for a meeting with Mr Wetangula next week in a bid to calm down the rising tensions between the two countries.
“We are open-minded. In a relationship you can never say never to any issue,” Mr Wetangula said at the press briefing in his office. Mr Russom left in a rush and did not attend the press briefing.
“Those (reviewing ties) are always extreme options that any country can take in circumstances that may justify that. As it is now we have not reached that level yet because the ambassador has delivered letters to me from the Eritrean foreign minister wishing to come to Kenya and talk to us.”
“As a country if we get unsatisfactory explanations and answers then we move to level two,” said Mr Wetangula, dropping a hint of the measures is willing to take to deal with Eritrea.
The Kenya Defence Forces are currently in hot pursuit of the Somali terrorist group after a string of kidnappings of foreigners and aid workers within the Kenyan territory.
On Tuesday, three planes landed in Baidoa, an Al Shabaab stronghold with consignments of weapons for the militants with evidence strongly pointing towards Asmara as the origin, a charge Eritrea has vehemently denied.
The allegations that have been forthcoming include supply and delivery of weapons to Al Shabaab and other militant groups in Somalia and possible supply of other materials and general support by Eritrea.
“I have discussed with the ambassador and given him the full details of the allegations and the intelligence we have in our possession. We sought an explanation from him which he provided on behalf of his government. In a nutshell he denied everything as was expected,” said Mr Wetangula.
Speaking to the Nation on phone, Mr Russom said the meeting with the minister was cordial. He also said he had delivered his minister for foreign affairs’ request to meet Kenya officials Monday or Tuesday next week.
“It was a very good and fruitful meeting. My minister will be here next week to address the issues raised next week,” he said.
According to Mr Wetangula, the government has opted for dialogue with Eritrea as the first step with the option of taking other unspecified measures unless they get satisfactory answers to intelligence reports on Asmara’s ties with Al Shabaab.
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