The Director of the Eastern Africa Standby Force, Brigadier General (Rtd) Paul Kahuria Njema has urged participants at the just concluded African Integrated Mission Planning Course for the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) to be cognizant of the strategic objective initiated by their leaders for a common African Defense and Security Mechanism of the African Union.
Brig Gen (Rtd) Njema made the call as he presided over the closure of a one-week training that was held in Entebbe. The course that was composed of the Military, Police and civilian components aimed to prepare participants for any dynamic mission towards addressing a crisis scenario.
The course also aimed to enhance the knowledge and understanding of integrated crisis management approaches as well as to enhance collaboration and coordination among the different actors.
He appreciated the Eastern Africa Standby Force Secretariat, the African Peace and Security Architecture, the African Union and the facilitators that have enabled the course to take place. “I am confident that the package you have got from the facilitators is adequate to enable you perform your duties successfully. I therefore urge you to utilize the knowledge acquired to good use for the betterment of your institutions, Nations and the Region as a whole. Please remain focused and committed to the purpose,” said Brig Gen (Rtd) Njema.
The Director of Personnel and Administration – Air Force, Brig Gen Julius Bagonza who represented the Chief of the Staff – Air Force urged the participants to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Integrated Crisis Management approaches and collaboration among different stakeholders namely; the Police and Civilian components amidst the security dynamics in the region. “As you are aware, the current regional security environment is very dynamic and fluid with a lot of challenges manifested in non-traditional threats like terrorism, cross border insecurity, cattle rustling, and environmental insecurity among others which negatively derail our speed of journey towards socio-economic transformation. This calls for a well prepared and trained Force that can appropriately respond to these challenges,” Brig Gen Bagonza.
He said the course was conducted at the right time and EASF training should focus on the continuous enhancement of knowledge, skills and attitudes of personnel earmarked for either deployment or to enable them to apply their expertise in EASF activities. “EASF training should aim at providing the strategic direction of the training process and Force generation required in multinational and multi-discipline peacekeeping operations,” Brig Gen Julius Bagonza concluded.
The Chief Instructor of EASF Mr. Keneth Albert urged participants to profitably use the lessons learned to enrich their capacities during Peace Support Operations and commended the participants for their commitment and enthusiasm. “I thank and appreciate the Government of Uganda for accepting to host the training and again it’s a clear demonstration of our commitment to the cause of a secure and peaceful Region and Continent in the Spirit of Pan Africanism,” he concluded.
The Eastern Standby Force currently consists of 10 Member States; and these include; Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.
It is one of the five regional blocs of the African Peace and Security Architecture that is developing a Standby Force, as a component of the African Standby Force.
