From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Thu, Oct 8, 2009 at 3:22 PM

THE EAC IS SHAPING FOR THE CREATION OF A PAN-EAST -AFRICAN JOINT MILITARY FORCE TO CHECK ON TERRORISM AND ANY OTHER FORM OF SECURITY THREATS.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

DELEGATES at the just concluded East African Community Peace and Security regional conference held in Kampala this week have proposed for the establishment of a Pan-East-Africa standby military brigade.

But the proposal, which the Secretary General, Mr Juma Mwapachu, described as very popular, will have to be adopted by the EAC heads of states summit scheduled for Arusha later in November this year .

When in full operation, the military unit is expected to intervene in a number of states during national disaster, civil conflicts, piracy, terrorism and other forms of security threats in the region.

“From this conference, there is consensus we really need this force to respond where there is disaster or security threats within any of our member states”, Ambassador Mwapachu told the delegates.

Ambasador Mwapachu, however did not disclose when the force would be inaugurated, but only said it would depend on the consensus of the heads of state of the EAC, at their next summit schedule for next month in Arusha, Tanzania

”It is our heads of states to decide whether or when we need the force to be in place,” he said,adding that the region was already experimenting with the aspects of security co-operation through joint annual military exercises.

“We are collecting ideas on when it can come into force..Its intervention would be proceeded by an invitation by the affected member state, following the pre-intervention appraisal by a group of eminent persons or jurists, if the leaders adopt the proposal at the earliest opportunity”.

The Secretary General said that besides more military war games in the Northern Tanzania, each EAC member state has posted a full-time military attaché at the EAC secretariat in Arusha.

He said the intervention without the consent of the affected government could be counter-productive and engender military opposition even if they supported the idea of creation of the standby military force in the region.

Members of the East African Community are Kenya,Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi..

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
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Subject: EAST AFRICAN NATIONS TO FORM A STANDBY MILITARY FORCE?