Kenya, Comoros to fight Indian Ocean piracy

Kenya and the Comoros have pledged to cooperate in the fight against piracy in the Indian Ocean.

The Comoros Islands President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi and Kenya’s Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang'ula also agreed that the two countries would work together in trade, education and health sectors.

Speaking to journalists at after a meeting at the Panari Hotel in Nairobi Tuesday, the two who were accompanied by the Comoros Island Foreign Affairs Minister Fahmi Said Ibrahim condemned piracy in the Indian Ocean.

The frequent attacks of ships in the ocean by pirates from Somalia, who demand ransom has affected flow of goods to the East African region.

Safer continent

President Sambi and Mr Wetang'ula further said the two countries would liaise in the fight against terrorism for a safer continent.

Mr Sambi and Mr Wetang'ula also condemned the terrorist attacks in Uganda on Sunday that killed more than 70 people and blamed on Somali militia group al-Shabaab.

Mr Sambi hailed the start of East African Community common market protocol saying his country was looking into ways that it could benefit.

Mr Wetang'ula said the Comoros President would return to Kenya before the end of the year for an official visit.

The Comoros Islands are trying to consolidate political stability amid tensions between semi-autonomous islands and the central government.

A history of political violence has left the Comoros desperately poor. At times, the country has teetered on the brink of disintegration.

The three Indian Ocean islands have experienced more than 20 coups or attempted coups, beginning just weeks after independence from France in 1975 when President Ahmed Abdallah was toppled in a coup assisted by French mercenary Colonel Bob Denard.

Colonel Denard featured in several power struggles over the years.

To add to the country's troubles, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared unilateral independence in a violent conflict in 1997.

In an effort to bring the breakaway islands back into the fold, Moheli, Anjouan and the largest island, Grande Comore, were granted their own presidents and greater autonomy under a 2001 constitution.

The Union of the Comoros retained control of security and financial matters.

The people of the Comoros are among the poorest in Africa and are heavily dependent on foreign aid. Natural resources are in short supply and the islands' chief exports - vanilla, cloves and perfume essence - are prone to price fluctuations. Money sent home by Comorans living abroad is an important source of income.

The descendants of Arab traders, Malay immigrants and African peoples contribute to the islands' complex ethnic mix.