Rwanda hosts EASF Policy Organs Meetings

Peace and Security leaders in the Eastern Africa Region will convene in Kigali, Rwanda, from 18th to 22nd  August 2014, to participate in the meetings of the Council of Ministers of Defence and Security, and the  Eastern Africa Chiefs of Defence and Security.

 The meetings are convened as EASF approaches Full Operational Capability.

These four-day meetings aim at addressing pertinent issues and critical tasks necessary to  operationalise the Force by December 2014. The Experts Working Group session was officially opened by the Chief of Staff for Rwanda Army, Major General Frank Mushyo Kamanzi.

For the first time, these meetings will have participation from Police Commissioners and representatives of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the EASF Member States so as to ensure multi-sectorial representation in all EASF Policy Organs Meetings as directed by the EASF Council of Ministers.

For the past ten years, the regional force has been preparing a multidimensional force by building capacity in the Military, Police and Civilian components to address security threats and challenges in the Region. EASF is expected to attain Full Operational Capability (FOC) within the set time frame and subsequently participate in the ongoing Peace Support Operations.

The Republic of Rwanda, Host Nation, took over the Chair of the Council of Ministers of Defence and Security of Eastern Africa and the Committee of Eastern Africa of Chiefs of Defence Staff and Security from Kenya in April 2014.