Air forces in talks on Africa

In Summary

The meetings came in the backdrop of the downing of a Kenyan-registered cargo plane last week in the southern town of Bardale in Somalia.
The plane was delivering medical supplies. Kenya and Somalia said they will jointly investigate the crash that killed six people. The aircraft was hit as it descended into the local airstrip.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced even the military to adhere to health guidelines to mitigate its spread.

By AGGREY MUTAMBO
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The US military held a high ranking virtual meeting on May 6 with Rwandan and Kenyan officials, “to discuss air operations in Africa and lessons learnt as we continue to fight through the Covid-19 pandemic,” according to a dispatch from the US-Africa Command.

The dispatch said the pandemic had forced even the military to adhere to health guidelines to mitigate its spread.

Gen Jeff Harrigian, commander of United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, held separate virtual meetings with Rwanda’s Maj-Gen Emmanuel Bayingana and Maj-gen Francis O Ogolla of Kenya.

The meetings came in the backdrop of the downing of a Kenyan-registered cargo plane last week in the southern town of Bardale in Somalia.

The plane was delivering medical supplies. Kenya and Somalia said they will jointly investigate the crash that killed six people. The aircraft was hit as it descended into the local airstrip.

Somalia’s President Mohamed Farmaajo told Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta that the matter will be fully investigated. Relations between the two countries have been lukewarm for almost a year over a maritime boundary dispute.