Musanze- Col. Emmanuel Bayingana, the head of Rwanda’s delegation at the initial planning conference for EAC- Command Post Exercise, has said the country is prepared to host the exercise.

Speaking to The New Times yesterday, Bayingana said it would be the country’s contribution towards promoting peace in the region. 

The meeting drew 20 senior military officers, including Defence liaison officers from the East African Community (EAC) member states.

The Command Post Exercise will be based at Rwanda Military Academy in Nyakinama.

The Conference being held in Musanze district will appoint the leadership for the command exercise, survey the proposed site at Nyakinama Military Academy and develop the exercise scenario.

It will be followed by a Field Training Exercise (FTX) involving military, police officers and civilians.

It is aimed at enhancing the capacity of the EAC partner states’ armed forces to conduct Peace Support Operations and to combat terrorism, piracy and natural disasters.

"It is in the spirit of promoting self reliance, and preparedness among the EAC member states in case of conflicts or natural disasters. RDF has experience in peace support missions which we shall also share with our colleagues,” Bayingana said.

The meeting follows EAC Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence held in Tanzania last November, which resolved that a Command Post Exercise (CPX) for the regional bloc be conducted in Rwanda in 2011.

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