‘’EASF must be commended’’ says Minister Engola

The Committee of Eastern Africa Chiefs of Defense Staff (EACDS) meeting was officially opened on Wednesday 4th December, 2019, by the Ugandan Minister of State for Defense and General Duties Hon. Engola Okello Mac-Odwogo.

Minister Engola commended EASF in its successful implementation of over 80% of the planned activities for 2019 and he also stressed on the necessity for the East African region to handle its peace and security issues at the regional level.

The meeting of Committee of Eastern Africa Chiefs of Defense Staff is the second gathering of the 27th Policy Organs Meetings currently taking place in the Kampala city of Uganda.

In his opening speech, the Chairperson of the Committee of Eastern Africa Chiefs of Defense Staff, Maj. Gen. Joseph Ndayishimiye Deputy CDF of Burundi pointed out the role of every country to promote peace and security in the region.

This meeting has been convened to discuss some very important issues and resolutions from previous policy Organs Meetings. Some of the pivotal topics on the agenda for this meeting is the financial status of EASF, arrears of member states, the proposed budget for 2020 and also some major components of the service regulations.

The Director of EASF Dr. Abdillahi Omar Bouh informed the meeting that the EASF Secretariat continues to have very cordial and fruitful engagements with all Member States and partners in the planning and implementation of EASF activities. In this area, the support of the Chiefs of Defense has been very instrumental in all the achievements realized so far. The Director also pointed out the desire of the organization to strengthen the collaboration with its partners at both regional and international levels. He also informed the CDFs of the change of the Nordic Advisory Coordination Staff (NACS) after 10 years of partnership from military heavy to be more civilian and police oriented through an MoU which is yet to be finalized.

The meeting of the Committee of the Eastern Africa Chiefs of Defense Staff will be followed by the Council of Ministers of Defense and Security of the region on Friday 6th December, 2019, still at the Protea Skyz Hotel, in Kampala.

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