Erroneous Media Reports: Setting the Record Straight

Press Communique
Issued on June, 25, 2019.

The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) would like to make the following statement and clarify the erroneous points and misinterpretation in respect to the articles published in “The East African” newspaper on Monday 24th June 2019 and in the “Daily Nation” on 23rd June 2019. We have officially requested that the Media House makes the necessary corrections in their next edition.

It has come to the attention of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) that some serious errors were made in two articles published in “The East Africa Newspaper” on Monday 24th June 2019 and in the “Daily Nation” on 23rdJune 2019. Some parts of the article grossly misrepresented the position of the EASF and the statements made by Director Dr. Abdillahi Omar Bouh and Members of the Management during the press conference held on Thursday 20th June at the EASF.

The article can possibly be interpreted to mean that EASF is planning to deploy militarily to Sudan and that the current political situation contains genocidal prospects. This is not only untrue, but it can also cause prejudice to our organization and to the Republic of Sudan.
 
There are also incorrect information relating to the three member states who are yet to ratify the EASF agreement, being Burundi, Comoros and Somalia and not Djibouti as published in the articles.
 
EASF would like to reiterate that situation in our Member State, Sudan, remains sensitive and regrettable. EASF stands ever ready to support our Member State and the mediating efforts of the African Union through the work of the appointed Hon. Dr. Abiye, but will act only in accordance with mandating by the African Union or the Policy Organs Meeting of the EASF Member States. No action, notice nor discussion has yet taken place to warrant any speculation on a military deployment of the EASF in relation to the situation in Sudan.

The EASF Spokesperson and public information office remain available for any clarification on the matter.

We kindly request for such correction to be made in the next edition by the Media House concerned. We thank the entire media fraternity for its understanding of the sensitivity and dynamics of the current situation in Sudan and the need to maintain an objective and neutral approach as EASF in respect to our Member States.

End of Press Communique

Jules HOAREAU
Information Manager
EASF
Tel: (254) 0755695454
www.easfcom.org