Army Chiefs Finalise Requirements for Full Operating Capability of Eastern Africa Standby Force

{{The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Rwanda, Hon Gen James Kabarebe opened on 23rd April 2014, the 9th extraordinary meeting of the Committee of Eastern Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff.}}

The meeting is taking place in Kigali, Rwanda and organised under the theme: “Eastern Africa Standby Force towards Full Operational Capability”.

The Minister of defence, Gen Kabarebe urged the Chiefs of Defence Staff to finalise requirements for Full Operationalization Capability (FOC) of a regional force by this year.

“I urge you as the Chiefs of Defence Staff entrusted with operationalization of the Heads of State Directives, to put final touches to all the operational requirements to achieving FOC by December 2014”.

Minister Kabarebe told regional peace and security leaders that lessons learnt from Rwanda’s experience of 1994 genocide against Tutsi and elsewhere “should guide us in actualizing the ‘Never Again’ and ‘Responsibility to Protect’ principles which are vital guarantees to the security our people”.

Gen Kabarebe said that significant progress has been made in the operationalization of the Eastern Africa Standby Force.

“Our respective Member States have demonstrated willingness and pro?activeness in dealing with conflict and crisis situations, with demonstrable results”.

However he said that the region is still facing security threats caused by Intra-State conflicts, terror groups marauding the region including Al-Shabab, FDLR, ADF-NALU and other negative forces that require collective action.

The chairperson of the Committee of Eastern Africa chiefs of defence staff, Gen Dr Julius W Karangi reminded the Defence Chiefs of their responsibility in ensuring readiness of the regional force that should deploy in various conflict situations in the region.

He emphasized that effective sustainment of deployed forces underpins Mission Success and that the necessary rehearsals must be undertaken.

The Director of Eastern Africa Standby Force Coordination Mechanism (EASFCOM), Ambassador Issmail Chanfi explained that the focus of the meeting is to transition the organization from a virtual outfit to a tangible deployable force to address Peace and Security challenges within the region.

He recognized the important role played by friends and partners in the development of EASF. “We appreciate the shared vision to operationalise EASF and make it a viable tool to provide peace, security and stability within our region’’.

EASF has ten member states namely Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.