Regional countries up security spending over terror and wars

Koborer · 2014-06-15T08:29:17+00:00

In Summary Kenya, the biggest spender, increased its security budget by 24 per cent to $1.7 billion from last year's $1.3 billion. Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi have troops in Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). East African countries have substantially increased their spending on national security to beef up capacity in the face of terrorism and political instability in the Horn of Africa. Kenya, the biggest spender, increased its security budget by 24 per cent to $1.7 billion from last year's $1.3 billion. Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich disclosed this on Thursday, when he presented a $20.5 billion budget in parliament. Mr Rotich said security remains key to the country's economic growth, which has taken a hit from the spate of terrorist attacks that have rocked Nairobi and Mombasa. "Without security, the economy will not grow, and development plans will not be realised if we don't strengthen the security sector," he said. Uganda has allocated $396 million to the security sector in the 2014/2015 budget, up from $380 million last year. Rwanda's military spending rose to $94 million from $80 million in 2013/2014, according to Minister for Defence General James Kabarebe's presentation to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economy and National Budget. According to the spending plans outlined in the Kenyan budget, the bulk of the security vote - $800 million - will go to the military, which is involved in operations in Somalia. Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi have troops in Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). READ: Uganda, Burundi lead East Africa in military spending The Interior Ministry - which includes policing, immigration and prison services - will receive $756 million while roughly $200 million has been earmarked for the National Intelligence Service (NIS). The security vote accounts for 8.3 per cent of Kenya's national budget, at 4.5 per cent of GDP. Kenya faces an increasing threat from transnational terrorists and, recently, home-grown terrorists thought to be sympathetic to the Al Shabaab militants, whom the Kenyan forces are fighting in Somalia. Besides the military offensive in Somalia, Kenya is upgrading its defence capabilities as a result of the ongoing border tensions with its neighbours and to combat cross-border raids from Somali and Ethiopian bandits. Additionally, the increasingly volatile security situation in the region has forced the Kenyan military to plan for the deployment of three peacekeeping missions from 2014 to 2017. The increase in the security vote could compensate for such expected spikes in the operational costs. Strengthen capacity While reading the budget, Uganda's Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka said the key priorities will be in professionalising its forces, promoting peace efforts in South Sudan and Somalia and securing the country's interests within the region. "Over the 2013/14 financial year, the government has continued to strengthen the capabilities of our armed forces and other security agencies by the acquisition of modern security and defence equipment and other logistical facilities, as well as the improvement of staff welfare and training," he said. With the Ugandan military currently stretched thin, this $400 million war chest is expected to finance its interventions in Somalia, South Sudan and the DRC, where its forces are hunting down the notorious warlord Joseph Kony and his LRA rebels. READ: Cost of UPDF presence in South Sudan begins to emerge Military leaders in Rwanda recently told a parliamentary committee that the increase in defence spending will go into paying allowances and benefits for the army. Last year, $60 million went into salaries, $14.5 million was used to purchase weaponry and $1.8 million was spent on staff welfare. Rwandan soldiers will enjoy a 38 per cent increase in monthly allowances, from $22 to $32. There are also plans to double their insurance scheme from $115,000 to $220,000. The Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) also plans to hire 2,700 recruits and 2,500 junior officers and some money will go into the ongoing demobilisation programme that will see about 750 soldiers retired. Kenya's spending on security has been on the rise since its incursion into Somalia in 2011. Major-General (rtd) Charles Mwanzia, who had been at the helm of Kenya's military intelligence for more than 20 years, says Kenya's "Jubaland Project" - where the government overtly and covertly supports the Ras Kamboni mercenaries who fight alongside its forces in Somalia - could also have contributed to the surge in defence spending. "The government has been funding Ras Kamboni for some time, and if Kenyans find out how much goes into this operation vis-à-vis the money allocated to social services, they may raise issues," the retired general told The EastAfrican on phone. About $76 million has been allocated to the Kenyan forces in Somalia, now part of Amisom, which includes soldiers from Uganda, Sierra Leone, Burundi and Djibouti. Under Amisom, the Kenyan soldiers enjoy a comprehensive medical cover, access to advanced military equipment and a $1,000 monthly allowance. Details from a 2013/2014 budget review paper show the military has so far spent $300 million in Somalia. The government provided $215 million for the mission and the United Nations $65 million, with a promise to reimburse Kenya the total cost of the intervention. The Treasury noted in a report released last year that the delay in reimbursement was due to UN's insistence on proper verification of Kenya's claims, adding that the country has spent an additional $147 million since it made the demand last year. Kenya and Uganda also plan to deploy Igad's regional Rapid Force in South Sudan to ensure the two warring parties stick to a ceasefire agreement they signed in Addis Ababa recently. However, Igad has expressed concern that it lacks the funds to deploy the estimated 5,000 troops from Kenya, Djibouti, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia. The three-battalion force is supposed to operate under the overall supervision of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) but will have its own command from Ethiopia. Mr Rotich said the $1.7 billion security vote will build on the ongoing 10-year modernisation programme to equip the Kenyan forces with offensive capabilities against terrorism, arms smuggling, human trafficking and drug trafficking in the Horn. Some $76 million will cover the leasing of 2,700 police vehicles in addition to the 1,200 leased last year. About $11.4 million will go into leasing five helicopters for the police air wing to enhance aerial patrols and a further $171 million into rolling out a CCTV surveillance system in major cities and towns. A further $33 million will be spent on recruitment of an additional 10,000 police officers. By Trevor Analo, Fred Oluoch, Julius Barigaba, Allan Olingo Regional countries up security spending over terror and wars - News - www.theeastafrican.co.ke

Thread starter Koborer
Start date Jun 15, 2014

Koborer

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Regional countries up security spending over terror and wars

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