The UK government is strengthening its defence cooperation with Kenya, Somalia and Nigeria as part of a new strategy to focus on security in Africa.
The partnership is outlined in a new Strategic Defence Review (SDR) report published by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government.
The report describes the three countries as strategic partners who are vital to countering global threats and protecting vital trade and maritime routes.
The UK has described Somalia as a key pillar of UK security interests. As it grapples with the growing insurgency by Al-Shabaab, Somalia has received significant support from the UK, including a $3.9 million increase to the UN Security Council’s Somali Security Forces Support Fund.
According to the report, this funding will support military supplies, troop life, and medical evacuations, as part of efforts to stabilize security in Somalia.
The UK’s broader partnership with African countries will be a key pillar of the UK’s security and foreign policy in the long term, she said.
