{{A Contingent of 206 Military and Police personnel from Rwanda will take part in a Field Training Exercise (FTX) codenamed “ Mashariki Salaam 2013” that will be held in Jinja, Uganda from 19-26 May this year.}}
The Rwanda Defence Force Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Charles Kayonga briefed the Rwandan contingent departing for Jinja on 6 May.
Lt Gen Charles Kayonga urged the troops to be good representatives of Rwanda. “Bear in mind that you are going to represent Rwanda. Take responsibilities seriously, act professionally, be disciplined and concentrate on the exercise themes”.
The troops will be joining a regional multidimensional force comprising of about 1250 military, police and civilian components from 11 member countries of Eastern Africa Standby Force.
The RDF spokesperson, Brig Gen Nzabamwita explained that the FTX “Mashariki Salaam 2013” is organized in framework of Eastern African Stand by Force to validate procedures and Lessons Learned after the First FTX held in Djibouti.
He said that Rwanda’s participation is yet another training opportunity to prepare ourselves with the multidimensional force, which will exercise on the themes of Peace Keeping operations, Disaster Management, Counter Terrorism and Counter Piracy, all relevant themes to enable EASF build capacity to address the eminent threats in our region such as disasters.
EASF is one of the five regional components of the African Standby Force established by the African Union for the purpose of enhancing peace and stability on the continent.
In recent preparations of the exercise” Mashariki Salaam 2013”, the Minister of Defence, Gen James Kabarebe said that by conducting the upcoming exercise in Jinja “EASF is testing its readiness to implement the African Standby Force (ASF) road map in conflict prevention, management and resolution in the region”.
It is planned that the full operationalization of AU Standby Force will be in 2015.
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