Security in East Africa and the Horn region has never been as precarious as it is today and that should be a matter of urgent concern to all people of good will.

In case anyone has doubts about what we are talking about; just point them in the direction of the sabre-rattling terror gang Al Shabaab in Somalia and its standoff with the Kenyan government.

And in case that does not worry them, perhaps the innocuously named "walk to work” protest in Uganda should.

It has turned violent in the past leading to deaths and serious injury, and all indications are that it could get worse this time around.

Add into the mix the deteriorating relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and you have a power key waiting to explode.

This need not be the case, and cooler heads to defuse the situation in the region are needed now more than ever before. It is for this reason that The New Times applaud the East African Community Military Command Post Exercise (CPX), to be held at the Rwanda Military Academy, Nyakinama,

The military drills codenamed Ushirikiano Imara will focus on peace support operations, disaster management, counter-terrorism and counter piracy in the region. We dare suggest a rapid deployment capacity be added to its already formidable mandate.

This will enable the force tackle menaces such as the one posed by the Al Shabaab militia, provide a first line of deployment should the hostilities between Addis Ababa and Asmara break into open hostilities.

It could also provide the framework for a regional capacity for any major disaster that might strike any of the EAC member states. As for the protests in Uganda, we can only plead that calm and good sense prevails.

Any situation that paints the region in bad light affects us. Just watch the tourists and investment opportunities flee.

Ends