February 9, 2025
Kenya Picked To Join The EU and The US To Fight Against The Houthi Rebels

Kenya Picked To Join The EU and The US To Fight Against The Houthi Rebels

The United States and European Union chose Kenya to join Seychelles in prosecuting maritime suspects in the Indian Ocean.

This comes after a number of countries raised concerns about threats posed by Houthi rebels in Yemen and Somali pirates.

According to the EU Naval Force, Kenya will join the war to assist in the handling of suspects as a result of the increase in cases along the coast, which threatens trade ties between many countries.

Christina Diaz, Spanish ambassador to Kenya, stated that the attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels are a major source of concern that must be addressed immediately.  

Her sentiments were echoed by the Italian ambassador to Kenya Roberto Natali, who reaffirmed that the Houthi rebels have launched numerous attacks in the last three months, forcing vessels to reroute along the Indian Ocean via the Cape.

“Seychelles has played a key role in handling suspects arrested in the waters and now Kenya will be another country which EU has entered a legal agreement with to allow for the trial of suspected pirates arrested by warships,” the ambassador stated.

Houthi rebels have caused devastation in Yemen by seizing the country’s northern region and launching over 30 attacks on ships operating in the Red Sea.

This has resulted in an increase in the prices of agricultural produce and basic commodities.

Henriette Geiger, the European Union’s ambassador to Kenya, reaffirmed that the EU’s defensive maritime security operation (EU Navfor) will expand its mandate to include areas where narcotics, human trafficking, and other crimes are reported.

“EU Navfor Somalia managed to suppress piracy in its previous years but with the current operation Atlanta, the forces will work with different governments to address emerging piracy and the illegal group at the Suez Canal,” the ambassador stated.

Armed forces from the United States and the United Kingdom have received support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands in their fight against the Houthis in Yemen. 

This has been accomplished through the use of strikes against Houthi-controlled areas.

“These strikes were designed to disrupt and degrade the capability of the Houthis to continue their attacks on global trade and innocent mariners from around the world while avoiding escalation,” a joint statement by the US and other nations on January 24, 2024, read.

Kenya Picked To Join The EU and The US To Fight Against The Houthi Rebels

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