By Samuel Ouma
Eastern African security bosses met in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday to find ways to tackle the region’s insecurity.
Simultaneously, the Chiefs of Defence Staff reaffirmed their commitment to forging new alliances among their armed forces to develop a resilient defence architecture.
The 32nd Ordinary East African Standby Force Organs brought together all 10 security forces from the ten member states.
In his opening remarks, Kenya’s Chief of Defence Forces, Francis Ogolla, said the meeting shows commitment to regional peace, security and collaboration.
“Our agenda for this gathering is comprehensive, touching on a range of issues that demand our attention. We shall, therefore, need to foster a spirit of cooperation, sharing knowledge, intelligence, and resources to effectively address the multifaceted concerns that confront us,” said Ogolla.
General Ogolla added that the Eastern African community deals with complex political issues, transnational threats, and new challenges.
These challenges include internal and inter-state conflicts, counterterrorism efforts, cybersecurity issues, and responding to humanitarian needs during disasters.
According to Ogolla, the above challenges hinder social development and political and economic aspects.
“The evolving challenges facing our region require us to be adaptable and innovative in our strategies of defence and security,” he added.
Meanwhile, Brigadier Paul Njema, Director of the Eastern Africa Standby Force, encouraged open and honest discussions during the session.
He stated that dialogues will help them find practical and effective solutions to their challenges.
“Let us venture into discussions that are open to different ideas and perspectives; in doing so, we will be able to craft a comprehensive report that will be used for decision-making at various levels,” said Brigadier Paul Njama.
