DJIBOUTI: East African countries to create a regional stand-by force fro peacekeeping missions

Record ID: 452415

  • Title: DJIBOUTI: East African countries to create a regional stand-by force fro peacekeeping missions
  • Date: 16th December 2009
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF THE EASTERN AFRICA STANDBY BRIGADE CO-ORDINATION MECHANISM (EASBRICOM) PETER MARWA, SAYING: "There is a format under which we are working, and there is very little we can do in terms of example, responding to the wishes of AMISOM. We know the difficulties they are facing but also appreciate that the only two countries that are in Somalia are Eastern African Stand by Force countries, Burundi and Uganda. So, to some extent if you want to say, really our region is involved. I think that the requirement for additional troops is a necessity and so far we don't know why some counties have been reluctant to go in there but again this goes back to African Union because it is their mission. They have to find some way of beefing up the troops there but if they do decide that they want to use our force, that again is their decision and we will respond accordingly if they ask us to do that." VARIOUS OF EAST AFRICAN TROOPS AT PARADE
  • Embargoed: 31st December 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Djibouti
  • Country: Djibouti
  • Topics: Environment / Natural World
  • Reuters ID: LVAD4HR0P0UR4W0T7W9LCXWO3OZP
  • Story Text: Thirteen East African countries train in initiative led by the African Union, to create an East African force that can be on-standby for peacekeeping missions in the region.
    On the arid plains of rural Djibouti rioters ran headlong into unflinching security forces wielding huge shields as others were rushed away on makeshift stretchers -- fortunately it was only a training exercise.
    Djibouti -- which borders Somalia, overlooks strategic shipping lanes rife with pirates and hosts French and American military bases -- this month received personnel from 14 regional countries trying to develop a unique peacekeeping force.
    EASF Brigade Coordinator Peter Marwa said the force was a unique undertaking.
    "Other than to demonstrating our capability to exercise under AU roadmap, is to overcome the issue of regional cohesion and integration. Now this is the first time, you are right that the countries that have been named under East African peace and security acting force, for the region, they are not ten, they are actually fourteen have come together," said Marwa.
    The Eastern Africa Region Standby Force (EASF), mandated by the African Union (AU), is training to deal with conflicts of extreme intensity, duration, escalation and with a propensity to spill across borders -- those all too familiar to the region.
    "It increases the cohesion, it's a very good experience, it also nurtures professionalism as we continue training together we learn from each other and we also get educate each other," Kenyan Battalion Commander Peter Gichuhi told Reuters.
    The continued bloodshed in Somalia -- where at least 19,000 civilians have been killed since the start of 2007 and another 1.5 million driven from their homes -- is a possible future deployment from the force, Marwa said.
    "There is a format under which we are working, and there is very little we can do in terms of example, responding to the wishes of AMISOM. We know the difficulties they are facing but also appreciate that the only two countries that are in Somalia are Eastern African Stand by Force countries, Burundi and Uganda. So, to some extent if you want to say, really our region is involved. I think that the requirement for additional troops is a necessity and so far we don't know why some counties have been reluctant to go in there but again this goes back to African Union because it is their mission. They have to find some way of beefing up the troops there but if they do decide that they want to use our force, that again is their decision and we will respond accordingly if they ask us to do that," Marwa said.
    The development of the EASF is part of an Africa-wide mission to establish regional forces comprised of military, civilian and police from member states, providing the AU with an eventual combined standby capacity of 15,000 to 20,000 peacekeepers.
    Marwa also said the east African force would be fully functional by 2015.
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