Mozambique to help Kenya fight piratesBy WILLIAM MAPOTE in Maputo | Tuesday, July 10  2012 at  20:26

Mozambique has expressed willingness to help Kenya combat piracyin the Indian Ocean.

Defence ministerFilipeNyusi said in Maputo Tuesday that extendingthe collaborationto Kenyawould generategreater effectiveness in the fight against the menace in the Mozambique Channel.

Mr Nyusi was addressing military attaches in the Mozambican capital.

"Currently, we sharethe activitiesto fight piracy withSouth Africaand Tanzania, but we need toextend itto Kenya, to blockthe enemyat long range, before becoming internalthreat," said Mr Nyusi.

He said fighting piracyin the Indian Ocean could failif the regional countries acted in isolation.

"The idea is to involveall countriesin the SADC strategy, with or withoutaccess to the sea, and all togetherfightagainst these evils, because all these countries aredirect or indirectusersofMozambican watersand around theMozambique Channel," said Mr Nyusi.

The Mozambican Government was concerned aboutthe negative impactof the Somali piratesin operations,researchand future exploitation ofnatural resources, in northern side of the country.