Northern Corridor defence chiefs in Kigali for regional security meet

Military officers from countries along the Northern Corridor are meeting in Kigali, to discuss the implementation of two security pacts aimed at strengthening security within the region. The five-day meeting was opened by the Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba, on Monday. The pacts are also part of the East African Community (EAC) Northern Corridor Infrastructure Development being spearheaded by the Heads of State of Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. The Kigali meeting is also being attended by top defence officials from Burundi and South Sudan. Addressing participants at the opening of the meeting, Nyamvumba said collaboration between countries is vital in countering regional security threats, which he said will lead to sustainable peace and development. “Our countries are faced with security threats from the LRA, FDLR, ADF-NALU, Al Shabaab and other terrorist groups. There is need for us to work together to handle all these threats,” he said. He added: “The development being registered in our region in terms of infrastructure, single customs territory among others, requires such collective security apparatus,” Nyamvumba said. The two pacts cater for regional security and give responsibility to defence chiefs to work on the implementation mechanism. “It would be naïve to look at the individual country’s interests,” he added. Brig. Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita, the Defence and Military spokesperson said the implementation process will also involve parliamentary ratifications of the two pacts. “Parliamentary ratifications of the two pacts are ongoing in signatory states. Rwanda will soon ratify followed by Kenya and Uganda. We are glad Burundi and South Sudan are now on board,” Nzabamwita said. The meeting will also be attended by defence, peace and security stakeholders in the region such as heads of prisons, heads of Police, heads of security intelligence, among others. After the implementation meeting, the security organs will hand over the framework to responsible defence, peace and security ministries.

National

Northern Corridor defence chiefs in Kigali for regional security meet