KIGALI - The second session of top defence and security officials of member states of the Economic Community of Great Lakes Countries (CPGL), starts today in Kigali.

CPGL comprises of Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, the experts’ meeting will precede that of ministers slated for January 21.

According to Lt Col Jill Rutaremara, the army and defence spokesman, today’s meeting is for the Sub Committee on Defence and Security that comprises of Chiefs of Defence Forces, Chiefs of Police, the Chiefs Intelligence and Security Services, Heads of Immigration services and Heads of Military and Police intelligence from all CPGL member States. 

He revealed that the  meeting will review the security situation in individual CPGL member states, he noted. 

"A draft protocol that will bind the Member States to cooperate in defence and security will also be discussed and a short and medium plan of action outlining main areas of cooperation in these areas will be drawn,” said Rutaremara. 

The session of the Committee on Defence will be chaired by the Minister of Defence, Gen. James Kabarebe, while that of the Sub Committee will be chaired by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga.

Ends