Opening Ceremony of the Experts Working Group (EWG) Meeting in Kigali as Part of the 33rd Policy Organs Meetings

Kigali, Rwanda – 16 December 2024 – The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) officially launched its Experts Working Group (EWG) Meeting in Kigali, marking the start of the 33rd Policy Organs Meetings.

Brigadier General Celestin Kanyamahanga, Rwanda's Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, was the guest of honor. In his address, he welcomed EASF and member state representatives, stressing the importance of the African Union’s Peace and Security Architecture in addressing Africa’s conflicts and their impact on development. He highlighted the African Standby Force as a key tool for maintaining peace across the continent.

Brigadier (rtd) Paul Kahuria Njema, EASF Director, also welcomed delegates, marking two decades of the EASF’s commitment to regional peace and security. He expressed gratitude to Rwanda for hosting the meeting and reaffirmed EASF's readiness to tackle emerging security threats such as terrorism, violent extremism, human trafficking, and climate change-induced crises. “We are ready to react to any situation within our region as mandated,” he said.

The meeting, which runs from 16 to 21 December, will discuss various issues, including the October EWG meeting report from Nairobi, the region’s security situation, and the 2025 activity plan and budget. 

Lieutenant Colonel Kabandana John, Chairperson of the EASF Expert Working Group, emphasized the importance of the meeting in addressing key regional and continental security challenges. He expressed hope that it would generate concrete proposals to guide policymakers and strengthen the region’s peacekeeping efforts.

The EWG meeting is a vital platform for shaping the future of peace and security in Eastern Africa.