NAIROBI – Kenya’s Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called for the enhancement of regional security capabilities as envisaged within the Eastern Africa Standby Force framework.
Speaking during the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of Defence and Security of Eastern Africa Standby Force that he chaired on Sunday, Duale said it is important for East African states to strengthen ties, foster collaboration and streamline their security architecture to confront terrorism, insecurity and instability.
Underscoring the need for a more peaceful, secure and integrated Eastern Africa region ideal for sustainable socio-economic development of the region, the CS noted that the region is confronting transnational threats of terrorism, extremism and organized crimes, which continue to destabilize the society and undermine the much-needed peace, security, and stability.
In this regard, Duale observed that there’s a need for synergies and collaboration amongst EAC member states. He called for the establishment of a conducive environment that allows sufficient focus on the root cause of conflicts and promoting good governance.
We need to prioritize the enhancement of our security capabilities as envisaged within the EASF framework. It is therefore incumbent on us to strengthen ties, foster collaboration and streamline our security architecture which is fundamental to success
Defence CS Aden Duale
The EASF is a regional organization whose mandate is to enhance peace and security in the Eastern Africa region.
It is one of the five regional multidimensional Forces of the African Standby Force consisting of military, police and civilian components. EASF was established as a regional mechanism to provide capability for rapid deployment of forces to carry out preventive deployment, rapid intervention, peace support/stability operations and peace enforcement.
The EASF draws its membership from 10 active states Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda, which are signatories to the MoU on the establishment of the EASF.
Duale was speaking during the culmination of a week-long EASF Organs Policy Meeting in Nairobi.
The meeting themed, ‘A Capability of Choice for Peace, Security and Integration in the Eastern Africa Region,’ brought together ministers of Defence and Security from EASF member states and their representatives from Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.
During the occasion, CS Duale handed over the Chairmanship of the Council of Ministers of EASF to Rwanda’s Minister of Defence Juvenal Marizamunda, who takes over for the next one year.
“To the incoming chairperson, we must take stock of the mutating global crises and their potential impact on our region so that we can explore appropriate measures to mitigate the associated challenges,” said Duale.
Marizamunda thanked his predecessor for his exemplary leadership saying he shall build on the firm foundation he established towards fostering regional peace, security and integration.
EASF Director Brigadier (Rtd) Paul Njema said the Force remains focused on implementing the recommendation of the Strategic Plan that envisions, among others, achieving full operational capability saying EASF is ready for deployment whenever required.
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union on 17th January 2024 during the 1192nd meeting considered the simmering conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia.
The Council of Ministers unequivocally reaffirmed its strong commitment and support in all efforts aimed at preserving the unity, sovereignty, territory integrity and independence of all Member States in line with Article 4 of the AU Constitutive Act and the Protocols Relating to the Establishment of Peace and Security, especially on the conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia.
The Council also urged the two states to cease making utterances that may escalate the conflict further and implored external actors to abide by the Principle of Non-interference in the internal affairs of the conflict.
Ministers for Defence, the Chiefs of Defence Forces/Staff from Member States, including Kenya’s Gen Francis Ogolla, other senior officials from the security sector, members of the diplomatic corps and friends of EASF led by their Chairperson Colonel Jens Gunther Lindvig of Denmark were present.
