Defence Ministers and security chiefs from Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya yesterday met in Kigali where they signed an agreement that will see the three countries jointly fight crime, especially terrorism.

Speaking after the signing, Rwandan Defence minister James Kabarebe said the landmark Mutual Defence and Security Pact would help tackle negative forces, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

The document was signed by defence ministers Kabarebe, Crispus Kiyonga of Uganda and Raychelle Omamo of Kenya.

It was also endorsed by Internal Security minister Musa Fazil Harerimana, and his Ugandan and Kenyan counterparts Aronda Nyakairima and Joseph Ole Lenku, respectively.

The contents of the document were not readily available by press time.

"The pact will address threats of several marauding negative armed groups such as the genocidal FDLR, terrorist groups like of ADF-Nalu and al-Shabaab and several transnational crimes that require collective security frameworks,” Kabarebe said.

According to the minister, cooperation between the three countries will bring more benefits to the population.

"The pact signed today will seek to address the security challenges that may come with free movement of people,” he added.

Further changes?

The minister hinted that after signing the pact, the next step will be to develop a common foreign policy for the three countries in order to have one voice on the global stage.

"We need to harmonise defence and security with foreign policies,” he said.

"We must be inclusive and outward looking because dealing with current global issues requires us to work together as a region.”

The pact was developed at the directive by the heads of state of the three countries.

Within the East African Community framework, the three countries are particularly fast-tracking the implementation of several initiatives such as the use of national I.Ds to cross borders and a number of infrastructure projects aimed at easing doing business along the Northern Corridor.

The Northern Corridor links Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi and the eastern DR Congo to the port of Mombasa in Kenya.