NAIROBI – Kenya is committed to peace and security in the region and will support stabilization efforts from stakeholders and partners such as Japan in the Horn of Africa, Foreign Affairs PS Korir SingÖei has said.
The PS spoke when he hosted Japan’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Ambassador Shimizu Shinsuke in his office in Nairobi. PS Sing’Oei also noted that post-conflict reconstruction and development are also important in the region.
The PS also congratulated Japan for taking non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the record 12th time.
Ambassador Shimizu was named the Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa at the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development in August 2022 by Prime Minister Kishinda Fumio.
Following the appointment Ambassador Shimizu was assigned to support Africa’s efforts towards a peaceful and stable Africa, especially Ethiopia.
The Horn of Africa has been having peace and stability problems with the precarious peace processes in Sudan and South Sudan, the war in Tigray, the political process and war against Al Shabaab in Somalia, and well as the GERD conflict among Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.
Prior to his arrival in Nairobi, the special envoy was in Djibouti, Igad headquarters, where he met among others Ambassador Mohamed Idriss Farah of Djibouti “to talk about the peace process in Ethiopia”.
According to Japan Ambassador to Ethiopia Ito Takako, her country continues to assist in the peace and stability of Ethiopia, with a focus on human security.
“For instance, in January 2022, Japan’s humanitarian assistance of USD 26 million for Northern Ethiopia and other regions was provided through international organizations, and in July, another $3.3 million in emergency food aid was provided to the Somali Region through the WFP.
“In December, Japan decided to provide approximately $25 million through international organizations for conflict and drought affected areas in Ethiopia,” the envoy said in her New Year Message.
She added that in consultation with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, Japan announced in September the provision of mobile clinic vehicles and equipment to hospitals in five regions where the maternity mortality rate is high and the health coverage is low.
“Provision of additional school buildings vocational training centers and small bridges for local communities are some of the examples of projects that were completed and handed over last year after fruitful cooperation between Japan and Ethiopian local NGOs or municipal governments, or are now in the pipeline for this year’s implementation,” Ambassador Ito said.
To support Ethiopia’s national dialogue process, she said Japan will provide buses for the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission to help in accessing the venue for the national dialogue.
