Kenya On the Spot Over Seized ShipThe Nation (Nairobi)NEWS
30 October 2008 Posted to the web 31 October 2008 Nairobi
The US has asked Kenya and Ukraine to disclose the actual destination of the 33 T-72 tanks and ammunition aboard the hijacked Ukrainian ship moored off the coast of Somalia.
"Kenya should say what is the destination of the weapons and Ukraine who are the exporters should say who they were exporting the weapons to," the US Under-Secretary of State for African Affairs, Dr Jendayi Frazer, said.
While Kenya insists that the weapons are meant for its military, some groups, including a US army commander, have said the arms were being shipped to South Sudan.
Extremist groups
Dr Frazer was in the country to attend an Inter-Governmental Authority on Development summit.
The US official said the international community was concerned about the possibility of the weapons falling into the hands of extremist groups in the region.
She was referring to the weapons aboard the hijacked MV Faina, which has been held for the past 36 days by pirates demanding ransom.
Meanwhile, pirates have hijacked a Turkish ship after making five attempts on other vessels on Tuesday. MV Yasa Neslihan, with 20 crew members, was seized by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
The US has asked Kenya and Ukraine to disclose the actual destination of the 33 T-72 tanks and ammunition aboard the hijacked Ukrainian ship moored off the coast of Somalia.
"Kenya should say what is the destination of the weapons and Ukraine who are the exporters should say who they were exporting the weapons to," the US Under-Secretary of State for African Affairs, Dr Jendayi Frazer, said.
While Kenya insists that the weapons are meant for its military, some groups, including a US army commander, have said the arms were being shipped to South Sudan.
Extremist groups
Dr Frazer was in the country to attend an Inter-Governmental Authority on Development summit.
The US official said the international community was concerned about the possibility of the weapons falling into the hands of extremist groups in the region.
She was referring to the weapons aboard the hijacked MV Faina, which has been held for the past 36 days by pirates demanding ransom.
Meanwhile, pirates have hijacked a Turkish ship after making five attempts on other vessels on Tuesday. MV Yasa Neslihan, with 20 crew members, was seized by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden.
