Rwanda: EAC to host peace sustainability training

The EAC security organs hosted a final planning conference in Kigali in preparation for the next joint Field Training Exercise (FTX), code-named Ushirikiano Imara to be held in mid October in Gako military academy, in order to find solutions to insecurities in the region.

 

The training will mainly focus on the fight against terrorism, disaster management as well as violation of human rights within the bloc.

 

On his side, Col Joseph Ndayishimiye, in charge of military training from Burundi, said “We have to be prepared in time so that we can be able to jointly fight against any threat although it may happen in 20 years.”

 

The participants involved in the activities include delegates from army officers, police, and prison services as well as EAC secretariat delegates.

 

The chairman of the meeting Frank Ng’anga from Kenya Defense Force said that the training will help them put into practice what was learned in theories.

 

Ng’anga said the field exercise will be a privilege to ensure that troops and every stakeholder who is in peace support operations is brought on board to be able to exercise practically what we learned in office to field.

 

The joint training is aimed to ensure the sustainability of peace in the bloc comes as another milestone along the regional integration process.

 

As for the substance of field training exercise scheduled from October 14 to 28, more than 800 staff will

participate. It is in accordance with the MoU of the defense council for EAC; the act Col Ng’anga said, it is meant not only for peace sustainability, but also for fortifying the integration process.

 

Ng’anga said this exercise helps partner states’ troops to sit down, plan and exercise together, and understand one another, not only culturally, but also in operations, so that when called upon in case the need arises they can be able to work as a team towards their set goals.

 

According to army officers in Kigali, the practical training follows another one held in Nyakinama, Musanze district last year, named the Command Post Exercise (CPX), which was an office exercise. Similar exercises took place in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in the past.