Experts Working Group Meeting Starts in Bujumbura

The 26th Ordinary Session of EASF's Policy Organs' Meetings kicked off with the Experts' Working Group Meeting on Monday, 8th July 2019 in Bujumbura, Burundi.

The aim of the meeting is to apprise the higher leaders of the Eastern Africa Region on the progress made by EASF since the 25th Ordinary Policy Organs Meetings held last year in the Republic of the Sudan as well as highlighting issues which seek policy guidance and decisions.

The Guest of Honor, Brig. Gen. Jean Paul Habimana, who is the Chief of Burundi Land Forces welcomed the meeting’s participants to Burundi and observed that the Experts Working Group bears a big responsibility over the next two days, to deliberate on agenda items placed before it, review and make recommendations to be presented to higher levels of EASF Policy Organs i.e., the Committee of Eastern Africa Chiefs of Defence Staff and the Council of Ministers for Defence and Security. He also thanked the Friends of EASF for their active participation in getting the Force where it is today.

The Director of EASF Dr. Abdillahi Omar Bouh informed the meeting that the Secretariat had far and wide implemented the Council's decisions and the EASF Activity Plan 2019 as programmed, standing at around 43% of the total as at 30th June 2019. Dr. Bouh also underscored EASF’s vast capacity building efforts over the years which is necessary in delivery of its mandate as expected.

The Director acknowledged with appreciation the support of the EASF partners both in funding and technical advice especially the United Kingdom, the Nordic Countries and the Federal Republic of Germany through GIZ. Dr. Bouh expressed special gratitude for the donation of the Force Headquarters Command & Control, Communication and Information Systems (C3IS) Satellite Communication Equipment worth USD 617,401.80 from the Royal Kingdom of Denmark and the United Kingdom which were officially handed over to the Secretariat in 2019.

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