Preparations for FTX 17 in Khartoum Sudan

EASF Member States convened in Khartoum, Sudan on 10th July 2017 for a week-long preparation conference for the forth-coming Field Training Exercise (FTX) planned for November 2017.

The meeting was officially opened by Hon. Lt Gen. Ali Mohamed Salem, who is the current chair of EASF Council of Ministers of Defence and Security and also the Minister for Defence of Sudan. The Minister welcomed the participants to the country on behalf of his Government and assured the participants of the commitment of the Government of the Sudan to provide the support needed to ensure the success of the conference.  This included entrusting the planning to specialized cadres in various areas of responsibility. He related the FTX to the larger efforts by the African Union Commission designed to review structures in order respond to security threats more effectively.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Abdillahi Omar Bouh, Director of EASF who led the EASF delegation, briefed the participants on the objectives and expected outcomes. He highlighted the key areas of discussion which included further development and confirmation of documents that will guide the conduct of FTX.   
Specifically, the conference will address development of the concept documents, participation of various Member States, Exercise Design, key appointments as well as logistical arrangements. FTX 2017 will exercise EASF's capability in the generation, deployment and recovery of a multi-national and multi-dimensional Force.  This is yet another milestone to maintain the Full Operational Capability (FOC) which EASF attained in 2014.

The conference brought together subject matter experts from the three components that comprise EASF, namely military, police and civilian.  Key participating personalities included the deputy Joint Chief of Staff, Sudan Armed Forces Gen Yahya Mohamed Khair, Generals and participants from Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda, officers from EASF Secretariat, PLANELM, Force HQs, Logistics Base and  EASF Technical Advisors.

Photo Gallery: EASF FTX 2017 Main Planning Conference