Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, Featured on Press TV's Top Five: 'Kenya to Face Additional Pressure'

Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, appeared on Press TV World News on August 20, 2012 to discuss US foreign policy toward Syria. Azikiwe is a frequent contributor on world issues., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Kenya to face additional pressure: Abayomi Azikiwe

Interview with Abayomi Azikiwe

Tue Sep 24, 2013 3:53PM GMT

To watch this Press TV Top Five interview with Abayomi Azikiwe just click on the website below:
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/09/24/325774/kenya-to-face-additional-pressure/

Press TV has conducted an interview with Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of Pan-African News Wire, about the Kenyan Interior Ministry saying security forces are in control of a mall after a three-day siege by gunmen who attacked the shopping center and killed scores.

What follows is an approximate transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Mr. Azikiwe, al-Shabab fighters who have brought Kenya down to its knees in these past three days, do you think this will force Kenya to re-assess its policy towards Somalia?

Azikiwe: I believe there is going to be additional pressure coming from the grassroots level as well as among certain political parties inside of Kenya itself to re-assess Kenya’s long-term commitment to the occupation of Somalia.

There are real issues involved in this crisis. For example the Kenya Defense Forces occupation of the southern port city of Kismayo which in effect has blocked al-Shabab from participation in the very lucrative....production and export industry which brings in tens of millions of dollars annually.

They were driven out beginning in October 2011 when the Kenya Defense Forces intervened in this conflict in Somalia. But we also have to keep in mind the role of the United States as well as the ...[entity] of Israel also in supporting this occupation of Somalia as well as their relationships, their business relationships with the government
in Kenya.

Press TV: Speaking of which, do you see the US-Africa Command taking a more active role in Africa from now on?

Azikiwe: Most definitely. We have been writing about this for many years. In fact there was a recent study done by Tomdispatch.com by Nick Turse which further confirmed that what we have been saying for some time that the US is stepping up its intervention under this administration, it is political as well as military intervention in Africa by the Pentagon, the State Department as well as the Central Intelligence Agency.

And this is something that the African Union should definitely be aware of because it is definitely not going to benefit the peace, stability and security of the African continent.