Ben Carson cancels trip to Kenya over unspecified ‘security concerns’
US Republican Party presidential candidate Ben Carson. He has cancelled his trip to Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia citing unspecified '“significant security concerns.” AFP PHOTO | ROBYN BECK
What you need to know:
- Dr Carson earlier December announced had that he intended to visit Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia.
- The trip to Kenya, he said, was inspired by an ancestral connection.
- He claimed descent from the Turkana people, whom he said lived in the “Kenya-Tanzania region.”
- Dr Carson also said on Thursday that he is cancelling a planned trip to Israel – again without citing a specific reason.
New York
US Republican Party presidential candidate Ben Carson announced Thursday he is cancelling his planned trip to Kenya and two other African countries citing security concerns.
Dr Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, told reporters “significant security concerns” had prompted him to forgo visiting Africa later December.
He did not specify the sources of those concerns.
“It is classified information, so I’m just going to say it’s too dangerous,” he said.
Doug Watts, a spokesman for Dr Carson’s campaign, added that the cancelation was "recommended by the Secret Service based on briefings they had had."
Dr Carson earlier December announced had that he intended to visit Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia.
BOKO HARAM
The Nigeria stop would enable him to learn more about the threat posed by Boko Haram, he had said.
In Zambia, Dr Carson added, he hoped to meet the Banda twin brothers whom he had surgically separated after they were born joined at the head.
The trip to Kenya, he said, was inspired by an ancestral connection.
Dr Carson claimed descent from the Turkana people, whom he said lived in the “Kenya-Tanzania region.”
The Turkana, in fact, live near Kenya’s borders with Ethiopia and South Sudan, hundreds of kilometres from the border with Tanzania.
Dr Carson also said on Thursday that he is cancelling a planned trip to Israel – again without citing a specific reason.
The presidential candidate has lately been slumping in opinion polls after having earlier challenged billionaire businessman Donald Trump for frontrunner status in the 13-member Republican field.
His demonstrated unfamiliarity with some foreign-policy topics is seen as a factor contributing to the waning popularity of the 64-year-old neophyte politician.
