Uhuru holds talks with United States Africa Command head Gen. Stephen Townsend

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday held talks with the Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) Gen. Stephen Townsend at State House, Nairobi.

This comes weeks before US troops exit Somalia following an order from President Donald Trump as part of a global pullback before he leaves office next month that will also see him drawdown forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

President Kenyatta, according to a statement from State House to newsrooms, and Gen. Townsend discussed the strengthening of military cooperation between Kenyan and American forces

Gen. Townsend was accompanied to the meeting by Kenya’s Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Robert Kibochi and US Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter.

The United States has about 700 troops in Somalia focused on helping local forces defeat the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab insurgency.

The mission has received little attention in the United States, but has been considered a cornerstone of the Pentagon’s global efforts to combat al Qaeda.