Rwanda Police, Military personnel commence Regional Field Training Exercise in Uganda

The Eastern Africa Standby Force-Field Training Exercise (EASF-FTX) codenamed “Mashariki Salaam 2013, officially kicked off on May 19, 2013 in Jinja, Uganda.

The Exercise brings together 1250 military, police and civilian troops from ten Eastern Africa Standby Force member states.

2016 Rwanda National Police (RNP) and Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) troops are taking part in the 18-day intensive Exercise.

The troops are from Rwanda, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and the host, Uganda.

The troops will be joining a regional multidimensional force to establish an Eastern Africa Standby Force which will be fully operational in 2015.

Uganda’s Minister of Defence, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, who flagged-off the Exercise said: “Without security no development and dignity; we can say, without fear, that EASF has made a difference.”

Dr. Kiyonga added that the region still faces security and stability challenges.

“Kenya, Djibouti, Uganda and Burundi are in Somalia because we are same people,” he said, calling on states to cooperate for common cause.

The Director of EASF, Maj. Gen Cyrille Ndayirukiye said the Standby Force is committed to achieving its mandate like maintaining peace and security by preparing regional troops for peacekeeping missions.

Uganda’s Chief Defence Staff, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima urged member countries to strengthen cooperation to effectively counter regional threats like terrorism.