Around 2,000 experts and government representatives from over 90 countries attended the event.

In his opening address, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun highlighted how AI use in military operations could strengthen capabilities but also bring potential harm if misused. 

Ukraine’s use of AI-enabled drones in the ongoing conflict with Russia was cited as an example.

The Blueprint

The REAIM Blueprint for Action outlined 20 clauses divided into three sections: the impact of AI on international peace and security; implementing responsible AI in the military domain; and envisaging future governance of AI in the military.

It acknowledged that “AI capabilities in the military domain must be applied in accordance with applicable national and international law.”

Further, the document highlighted that “appropriate human involvement needs to be maintained in the development, deployment and use of AI in the military domain, including appropriate measures that relate to human judgment and control over the use of force.”

Among the topics discussed were risk assessments, confidence-building measures, and preventing AI from being used in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, especially by terrorist groups.

China Opts Out, Russia Not Invited

South Korea, the US, Japan, France, Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Sweden, Pakistan, and Ukraine were among the 61 countries that endorsed the document.

China was one of 30 to opt out. 

Meanwhile, Russia was not invited for the second year in a row due to international condemnation of its Ukraine invasion.

“We also need to be realistic that we will never have the whole world on board,” Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said, adding that this dilemma must be part of further discussions.

This Seoul summit, co-hosted by the Netherlands, Singapore, Kenya, and the UK, follows the inaugural session at The Hague last year that initiated guidelines about AI use on the battlefield. 

This year’s summit’s declaration is said to be more action-oriented. “Last year … was more about creating shared understanding, now we are getting more towards action,” Brekelmans said.

South Korea aims to continue discussions based on the summit document in the upcoming UN General Assembly later this month.

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The first MaxxPros were sent via a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft to the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince.

Alongside the vehicles, Washington will also deliver 34 Overhead Gunner Protection Kits to boost the fleet’s protection and tactical field of view as well as corresponding equipment, supplies, parts, and repair and maintenance services.

SOUTHCOM noted that the incoming armored vehicles will be integrated into the MSS’ existing fleet of 10 MRAPS prepared in May 2024 and delivered two months later.

The initiative is part of the Pentagon’s continuing assistance to the Caribbean Community-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) for Haiti mission in response to widespread gang violence in the country.

RELEASE: Department Of Defense to Deliver Additional MRAPS, Turrets for the MSS Mission In Haiti

At the direction of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Air Force C-17 cargo aircraft will deliver additional Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) MaxxPro vehicles to Toussaint Louverture… pic.twitter.com/u31FQjN3Jg

— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) August 23, 2024

US Military Aid to Haiti

The project to hand over the vehicles comes after US President Joe Biden’s approval of a Presidential Drawdown Authority for Haiti last April.

The White House certified the decision to conform with a UN Security Council resolution in October 2023 aiming to “support the efforts of the Haitian National Police to re-establish security in Haiti and build security conditions conducive to holding free and fair elections.”

Among the commitments are the contribution of personnel, equipment, and necessary financial and logistic resources.

To date, the US government has provided $300 million to the Haitian MSS contingent.

The MaxxPro Armored Fighting Vehicle

The MaxxPro MRAP is a 23.5-foot (7.1-meter) system developed to secure warfighters against land mines, improvised explosive devices, and ballistic arms.

The 4×4 vehicle is operated by up to seven personnel and can carry approximately 11,150 pounds (5,057 kilograms) of payload.

It is equipped with a 375-horsepower Navistar diesel engine and Allison 5-speed automatic transmission for a range of approximately 248 miles (400 kilometers) and a speed of 62 miles (100 kilometers) per hour.

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Two UH-1 Huey military choppers arrived in the African nation earlier this month and are now being assembled by a specialized team of US Air Force technicians in the Embakasi Garrison hangar in Nairobi.

The helicopters will undergo extensive testing before official deployment with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Six more promised Hueys are reportedly set to arrive in the country next month.

Once deployed, the choppers are expected to improve Kenya’s ability to perform counter-terrorism and peacekeeping missions.

Major Non-NATO Ally

Developed by Bell, the UH-1 is a multi-purpose utility helicopter that gained popularity during the Vietnam War.

It was used primarily for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuations, and aerial attacks.

The arrival of the rotary-wing aircraft in Nairobi comes as Washington officially designated Kenya as a major non-NATO ally.

It is the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to obtain this recognition.

The new status is expected to boost ties between the US and Kenya, as well as allow Washington to have greater influence in East Africa.

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There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the explosion occurred in an area of far northeastern Kenya often targeted by the Somalia-based Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab.

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki said five people were killed and another five suffered “life-threatening injuries” in the blast caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) in the town of Elwak in Mandera County.

“The bomb unleashed by the criminals was laden on a donkey cart to avoid detection,” he said in a statement.

“The crime scene has been sealed off for evacuation and investigations while various security formations are in pursuit of the attackers.”

He did not say who was believed to be behind the bombing.

Kenya is a major contributor to an African Union force backing Somalia’s fragile central government in its fight against Al-Shabaab and has suffered a string of deadly retaliatory assaults.

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“Today at 2:20 pm, our nation suffered a tragic air accident… I am deeply saddened to announce the passing of General Francis Omondi Ogolla, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF),” Ruto told reporters.

The president, who had convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council after news of the accident emerged, said nine other “gallant military personnel” on board were also killed while two survived.

Ogolla, 61, a trained fighter pilot, had only been in the post for a year but was shortly due to mark 40 years of military service.

Ruto said the Kenya Air Force had dispatched an investigation team to establish the cause of the crash, which took place in Elgeyo Marakwet county, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi.

Ogolla’s helicopter went down shortly after takeoff from the village of Chesegon, where he and his entourage had been visiting a school after making stops in other areas to see Kenyan troops and other sites.

‘Distinguished Four-Star General’

Ruto announced three days of mourning from Friday, with official flags to fly at half-mast, while messages of condolence were sent from across the region.

“A distinguished four-star general has fallen in the course of duty and service of the country,” Ruto said.

“Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals, gallant officers, service men and women.”

The bodies of the victims, draped in Kenyan flags, were returned to Nairobi on an air force plane late Thursday, according to images shared by the presidency.

Kenyan media reports said this was the fifth military chopper crash in 12 months, with claims the aircraft were old and poorly maintained.

In June 2021, at least 10 soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed during a training exercise south of Nairobi.

Ruto said Ogolla had left Nairobi on Thursday morning on a “Huey” helicopter to visit troops in the North Rift area deployed as part of Operation Maliza Uhalifu (Operation End Crime in Swahili).

Kenyan authorities have long battled insecurity in the North Rift region, which is marred by armed bandits and cattle rustlers.

The Bell UH-1B helicopter, nicknamed the “Huey”, was developed in the 1950s and widely used by the US military during the Vietnam War.

‘Significant Loss to the Nation’

Ogolla, a married father of two, was appointed Chief of the Defence Forces by Ruto in April last year, a position that also serves as the top military adviser to the president.

Under Kenyan military regulations, the defense chief normally retires at 62 or after four years in the post, whichever comes first.

Ruto told journalists last May that he appointed Ogolla despite him being among those who tried to overturn his narrow election win against opposition leader Raila Odinga in 2022.

“When I looked at his CV, he was the best person to be (a) general,” Ruto said.

Ogolla joined the KDF in April 1984, rising through the ranks to command the Kenyan Air Force in 2018, a post he held for three years before becoming vice chief of the defence forces in 2021.

Ruto’s predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta said Ogolla’s death was a “significant loss to the nation”.

“The CDF was not only an accomplished military leader, but also a devoted patriot who dedicated his life to serving and protecting our beloved country.”

Messages of condolence were also sent by, among others, the African Union, regional grouping IGAD, and the US, British, and EU embassies in Kenya.

“This loss is not only felt by Kenya but also by the entire region,” IGAD secretary general Workneh Gebeyehu said on X.

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The explosion occurred on Monday at a hotel near a police station in Mandera, northeastern Kenya, an area often targeted by the Somalia-based group.

Police said several other people were wounded.

“We suspect the involvement of Al-Shabaab in this incident,” a police officer told AFP on Tuesday.

“A major security operation is going on and an investigation on the involvement of people they are working with locally.”

Local media also reported that two police reservists were killed in a weekend raid by suspected Al-Shabaab fighters in Lamu County, on Kenya’s northern coast.

The East African nation is a major contributor to an African Union force backing Somalia’s central government in its fight against Al-Shabaab and has suffered a string of deadly retaliatory assaults.

After a relative lull in violence, the Al-Qaeda linked group has staged several attacks in Somalia during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, including a siege on a hotel in the capital Mogadishu that killed three people.

Somalia’s beleaguered government launched a major offensive against the Islamists in August 2022, joining forces with local clan militias.

Although the government has reported some success, with swathes of territory in central Somalia recaptured, Al-Shabaab claimed earlier this month it had taken multiple locations in the region.

The post Kenya Blast Blamed on Al-Shabaab Kills Four appeared first on The Defense Post.

Delivered by US Africa Command (AFRICOM), the donation includes 6,730 pieces of body armor, ballistic helmets to protect soldiers from small arms fire, and ballistic plates to withstand heavy ammunition.

According to the US Embassy in Nairobi, the equipment will enhance the country’s counterterrorism and security efforts.

They will also help ensure the effectiveness of personnel in conducting peacekeeping missions, AFRICOM said.

Prior to the delivery, Kenya and the US signed a five-year defense cooperation deal, which underscores Washington’s role in assisting Nairobi with its fight against armed Islamist groups.

We continue our unwavering commitment to support the security efforts between and . Today, @USAfricaCommand delivered crucial protective equipment to @kdfinfo, valued at over $1.3 million, enhancing Kenya’s counterterrorism and security efforts. pic.twitter.com/YIpnWyy01V

— U.S. Embassy Nairobi (@USEmbassyKenya) January 30, 2024

Reflecting Strong Relationship

In a statement to local media, US AFRICOM explained that the donation exemplifies the strong relationship between the two countries.

Major General Kenneth Ekman also revealed that the protective gear was among the priority requests of the Kenya Defence Forces when US defense secretary Lloyd Austin visited the country in September 2023.

“We are proud to complete this grant of protective equipment to our partners… This donation underscores the US commitment to supporting the security efforts of our international partners and fostering a free, open, and stable international order,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kenya Defence Forces Eastern Command official Major General Juma Mwinyika expressed gratitude to the US government for the donation.

He said the Nairobi has the support of Washington “at the strategic level,” and now it must do its part on the tactical and operational level.

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According to the country’s interior ministry, around 7 billion Kenyan shillings ($45 million) will be spent annually for five years to procure tactical vehicles, drones, and other modern defense products.

The first consignment of Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, aerial surveillance kits, and personnel protective gear are set to arrive “in the next seven to 10 days,” said interior secretary Kithure Kindiki.

In total, the Kenyan government will earmark 37 billion shillings ($236 million) for the initiative.

Aircraft Purchase

Apart from drones and military vehicles, Nairobi has reportedly ordered aircraft to support aerial missions.

However, unlike the other procured equipment, aircraft will take longer to get into the country because of the so-called lead time.

“It’s going to take maybe late next year for us to be able to get the gunship helicopters that are part of this equipment [procurement] program,” Kindiki explained.

In the meantime, he said the government has upgraded some military aircraft to be used while waiting for the helicopters under order.

President’s Intervention

According to Kindiki, the initial budget for the five-year program had been set at 20 billion Kenyan shillings ($129 million).

The administration of President William Ruto took over at hard economic times, and extra work is needed to secure money for the initiative.

However, due to growing concerns about security challenges, the African nation expanded the budget to accommodate more equipment for the military.

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The Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation has been in turmoil, with armed gangs taking over parts of the country and unleashing brutal violence, and the economy and public health system also in tatters.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have been calling since late 2022 for international support to back the police force, but much of the global community had been jaded by the failure of earlier interventions in Haiti.

Monday’s resolution passed with 13 votes in favor, with China and Russia abstaining. It was hailed by Haitian foreign minister Jean Victor Geneus as bringing a “glimmer of hope for people who have been suffering the consequences of a difficult political, socio-economic, security and humanitarian situation for too long.”

A breakthrough in plans for the force came in July, when Kenya volunteered to lead it and send 1,000 personnel.

“We must not fail the people of Haiti,” Kenyan President William Ruto declared in a statement Tuesday, saying they had “borne the brunt of colonial plunder and repression.”

“This mandate is not only about peace and security, but also about the rebuilding of Haiti -– its politics, its economic development, and social stability,” Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua said separately.

The resolution calls for the deployment of a “multinational security support mission” — not officially a UN force — with a “lead country” coordinating with the Haitian government.

The mission is initially approved for one year, with a review after nine months.

The force aims to provide “operational support to the Haitian National Police, including building its capacity through the planning and conduct of joint security support operations,” the resolution says.

The mission will also aim to create conditions to hold elections, which have not taken place in Haiti since 2016.

Guterres, in a recent report, said that the security situation in Haiti has only grown worse, with gang members both more numerous and better armed than the police.

Nearly 2,800 homicides were recorded in Haiti between October 2022 and June 2023, with 80 minors among the dead, the UN report said.

Addressing Concerns of China

The United States has been advocating a multinational force. On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his department would continue working with Congress to provide $100 million in foreign assistance and that the Pentagon is prepared to provide up to $100 million in enabling support.

We applaud the @UN Security Council’s authorization of a Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti – a pivotal step in providing the international support Haiti requested to restore security. We thank Kenya and Ecuador for their strong partnership in this effort.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) October 2, 2023

But President Joe Biden has made clear he will not put American troops in harm’s way.

On Monday, the White House voiced its “gratitude” to Kenya for taking on leadership of the force, and to nations such as Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Antigua for adding manpower.

“It is now crucial that we focus on making progress in mobilizing the international support necessary to deploy this mission,” US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement.

For the resolution to pass, China had to choose not to apply its veto. Haiti is one of a dwindling number of nations that recognizes Taiwan, which Beijing claims and has been seeking to isolate on the international stage.

China, in the run-up to the Security Council meeting, voiced doubts and pointed a finger at the United States, highlighting the role of weapons from Florida in aggravating the violence.

Under pressure from Beijing, the resolution expands an embargo on light weapons and ammunition.

Beijing’s UN envoy Zhang Jun made it clear that China was still skeptical, stating Monday that “without a legitimate, effective and accountable government in place, any external support can hardly have any lasting effects.”

The resolution does not specify the size of the mission, although discussions have revolved around a force of about 2,000 personnel.

The resolution also calls for the support mission to “adopt appropriate wastewater management.”

A UN peacekeeping force in Haiti that lasted from 2004 to 2017 introduced cholera to the country, setting off an epidemic that killed more than 10,000 people.

The experience fueled even greater pessimism in Haiti on interventions and contributed to resistance against another force under the UN flag.

“Human rights, accountability, safety and dignity of the Haitian people must remain at the forefront of this policing mission,” Amnesty International Kenya said, calling for robust measures to protect Haitians from any abuses.

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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Kenyan Defense Minister Aden Bare Duale signed the five-year plan for defense cooperation earlier this week.

The treaty underscores the US role in assisting Kenya with its fight against al-Shabaab, an armed Islamist group affiliated with al-Qaeda.

Partnering Against Terrorism

Duale highlighted the importance of the agreement in quelling al-Shabaab’s attacks in the country.

“This cooperation will enable us to respond effectively to the ever-evolving security challenges in our region,” he said.

Al-Shabaab has launched high-profile attacks in Kenya since 2013. In 2019, the terrorist group was responsible for the murder of 21 people in Nairobi, one of which was a US citizen.

Kenya’s Brave Stance

During the ceremony, Austin also thanked the Kenyan government for volunteering to help fight gang violence in Haiti.

In July, Kenya signaled its willingness to lead a multinational force to restore calm to the country, promising to deploy 1,000 peacekeepers.

The appeal was endorsed at the UN Security Council by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who said that they would supply financial and logistical assistance for the effort.

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