Writes Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City
SECURITY Ministers of the three Eastern African nations of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda met in Kigali, the Rwandan capital early this week and signed an important pact to jointly combat the activities of the terrorists bin the region.
The new pact according to an impeccable source, will address threats posed by marauding genocidal entities such as { FDRL}, terrorists groups like ADF-Nalu, and the islamists Al-Shabaab, and several transnational crime groups, that require collective security framework.
Kenya”s cabinet secretary for Defense Ms Rachelle Omamo and internal security counterpart Joseph Ole Lenku went Kigali and met with their Ugandan and Rwandan counterparts..They Signed the pactwith the Rwandan Defense Minister James Kabarebe while Ugandan Defense Minister Grispus Kiyongsa signed on behalf of the Kampala regime.
Under the new pact, the three countries which are member states of the East African Community joint forces will tackle the terrorism in the region following the steady raise of terrorism menace in the region.
Addressing newsmen on behalf the group, Rwandan Defebse Minister Kabarabe that the landmark Mutual Defense and security agreement will help the three countries jointly tackle “Negative Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda” [FDRL], WHICH Rwandan government accuse ofhaving links with the perpetrators 0f the 1994 genocide in Rwanda which claimed the lives of close to one million people..
The minister said the Rwandan government has refused to negotiate with FDRL and has accused the UN of backing the rebel movements in the DEMOCRATIC republic of the {DRC} and deploying death squad to murder opponents abroad.
The document was also endorsed by thr Rwandan Internal Security MIinister MUSA fazil Haremana and HIS Kenyan counterpart Arounda Nyakiraima \nd Ole Lenku respectively..
According to Rwandan officials, the pact will seek to address the security challenges that may come with free movement of people..”, he said adding that co-operation between the three countries will bring more benefits t the population.”
The Rwandan Minister hinted that after signing the pact,the next step will be to develop the common foreign policy for the three countries in order to have one voice on the global stage.
He added, “We need to harmonize defense and security with foreign policies.” We must be inclusive and outward looking because dealing with the current global maters require us to work together in the region.
Ends