New Analysis by Leo Odera Omolo

Countries in East Africa and the Horn will in the near future be obligated to intervene in trouble spots like Somali and Darfur, instead of relying on military help from the entire continent or peace keeper from the United Nations.

The East African Standby Brigade Coordinating Mechanism (EASBCOM) is expected to become a reality next year after the brigade meets the requirement set by the African Union (AU).

The planned force, according to sources in Nairobi will complete its field training in November 2009 thereafter which it will be certified as fully operational ready to intervene and resolve numerous conflicts within the regions.

EASBCOM’s coordinator Dr. Simon Mulongo was recently quoted as saying that the Brigade which was involve specially trained troops from eleven countries can only undertake peace support operation from early next year.

According to Mr. Mulongo. EASBCOM role is to ensure the brigade has common equipment needed for any peace keeping force support operation.

Initially, the East African brigade was originally meant to have 13 countries, namely Tanzania, union of Comoro, Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda, Seychelles, Madagascar and Maritimes.

But it has now emerged that the East African Brigade force will only involve 10 active members with Tanzania, Madagascar and Mauritius having joined SADCC still, however, Tanzania recently reveled it was still interested in the force and is considering participating in the group as an observers.

Mr. Mulongo said the priority areas of intervention will depend on three factors. The most deserving conflict situation; the voting by the AU peace and security architecture, which requires the five regions of Africa to develop their own standby brigades

The East North, west, Central and Southern Africa regions are expected to develop their own brigades that will ultimately form an African Standby force equipped to intervene in conflict, meaning the continent will no longer have to depend on the United Nations every time a conflict breaks out.

Military commander from the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region met in the Kenya capital, Nairobi early this month for a one-week that analyzed conflict and disasters in the region. The generates came from Kenya, Uganda, Somalia Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibouti and Rwanda.

Article 14 of the all constituencies act provides that member states establish Regional mechanism for conflict prevention and management as part of the overall securely architecture of the African Union

But as the region moves to strengthen its capacity to respond to conflict before they escalate, the new arrangements will not have it smooth.

One area to concern remains the political dynamics and ideology of member countries which would lead to some not being willingly to contribute or accept troop[s from countries with which they are in dispute or on the basis of religious difference.

However, could easily be resolved. There is the provision that the country force can only be deployed at the request of the country with conflict in it.

In January last year the Kenya government rejected suggestions of foreign military intervention, even though the post election violence had overwhelmed in its security forces.

The regulation governing the EASBCOM stipulates that each region must move to strengthen its capacity to respond to conflicts before they escalate.

Each member country must set aside especially trained and well equipped force within their arm units that can be called upon at a moment’s notice to respond to a conflict situation.

Conflict is considered the leading single internal factor behind socio-economic decline on the continent and the suffering civilians.

Resent estimates show that conflicts are costing the Africans continent approximately USD 8 billion a year in terms of peace-keeping, humanitarian assistance, logistics and loss of property and human life

Between 1995 and 2005, the war of conflicts on the entire African Continent amounted to a staggering USD 18 billion.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
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Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:52:36 -0700 [10:52:36 AM CDT]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: EAST AFRICA’S STANDBY MILITARY FORCE LIKELY TO BE OPERATIONAL BY NOVEMBER TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS IN MEMBER STATES