Nairobi, April 9 -- Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf was in Nairobi on Monday for a one-day visit in what officials said was to strengthen a historic partnership. But besides the fact that they held a 'joint press conference' that did not involve independent media, this trip came on the backdrop of serious Nairobi angling towards Algerian rivals Morocco.

Mr Attaf and his host, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, did not mention Morocco by name.

Mudavadi in fact focused one economic reason indicating Algeria was Kenya's "valued partner" in various sectors such as trade, agriculture, educational cooperation, infrastructure and energy.

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