Boris Johnson looks out of puff as he races Ethiopian Olympic running champion Haile Gebrselassie
The Foreign Secretary is on a tour of the region - visiting Somalia, Kenya and Uganda
BORIS Johnson hit the ground running on his tour of East Africa - by taking a jog with long-distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie.
The Foreign Secretary pulled on a pair of trainers to take a run alongside the Ethiopian sporting icon.
He tweeted: "Phew! Also went for a jog with running legend Haile Gebrselassie! An honour to meet one of Ethiopia's sporting greats."
Gebrselassie, a two-time Olympic 10,000m gold medal winner and former marathon world record holder, was characteristically smiley alongside his lumbering political pal.
And he beat Bozza in the fashion stakes too with the Foreign Secretary taking to the starting blocks in a pair of baggy blue shorts, an old polo shirt and black socks.
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Boris is on a whirlwind tour of East Africa, having visited areas affected severely affected by drought yesterday.
Today he visited British troops in training in neighbouring Kenya.
Up to 10,000 Brit troops train in the 40°C heat of the Rift Valley every year and Boris talked of his "admiration" for the hardy squaddies.
He added: "I don't think people realise our armed forces are deployed in 80 countries around the world.
"They are doing a fantastic amount of good, even if it's just training countries to defend themselves against terrorism, that's massively more than any other European country."
The Foreign Secretary appears to be enjoying his trip to East Africa - visiting troops, dishing out UK aid packages and posing for pics with elephants.
He made a surprise visit to Somalia earlier this week - as Sir Mo Farah backed a desperate appeal for millions facing starvation in the region.
Britain is appealing for more aid for the drought - where children are so desperate they are being forced to eat LEAVES to survive.
He also made a visit to a Training Unit in Kenya and met with wildlife rangers at a conservation park.
Looking relaxed and jovial as his Prime Minister faces the worst week of her premiership back home, the Foreign Secretary was also snapped himself going for a run on his tour.
In February, the United Nations formally declared a famine in parts of South Sudan, the first time in six years such an announcement has been made.
Mr Johnson raised the issue of the drought with the President, and also discussed the security situation in the region.
His visit was not announced for security reasons – but he went on to see demonstrations of training that the British military are giving to the Somalian army forces.
The Foreign Secretary went on to meet with regional leaders, MPs and law students.
He said on Wednesday: “I was particularly impressed by the demonstrations of the practical help that the UK is delivering on the ground, from our military providing essential training for Somali armed forces to the live-saving humanitarian support from UK Aid.
“All of this is vital if Somalia is going to move forward to achieve long-term stability and prosperity.”
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