Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda have signed guidelines for cooperation in Peace Support Operations under the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP). The guidelines were signed on Thursday during a two-day workshop that attracted delegates from the three countries in Kigali. The Peace Support Operations, that are awaiting approval from the Heads of State of the partner states, are a recommendation from a “Mutual Peace and Security Pact” signed in May last year which aimed at establishing the Eastern Africa Standby Force. The aim of setting up the operation guidelines is to safeguard and protect the growing economies of the three partner states. Speaking at the workshop, the Rwandan Head of Delegation, Chief Inspector of Police Sam Mwesigwa, said under the guidelines, the Peace Support Operation will jointly tackle cross-cutting crimes such as terrorism, smuggling and economic crimes, as well as improve the lives of people in the region by managing conflicts and guaranteeing their security. “We are discussing areas under which member states will cooperate when the Peace Support Operation is implemented. They include joint trainings, joint command post exercises, financial mobilisation, force generation, among others,” CIP Mwesigwa told journalists. The Head of the Kenyan delegation, Dancan Ogore, said: “The operation will help improve lives of people in the Northern Corridor partner states through guaranteeing their peace and security and improving their capability to manage conflicts.” Amanda Magambo, Head of Uganda Delegation, said the partner states recognise peace and security as a pillar necessary for propelling the region toward its development agenda. “It will greatly contribute toward regional development through joint cooperation and management of conflicts,” she said. Other areas of cooperation in the Northern Corridor Integration Projects include; disaster risk reduction, management of refugees, control of proliferation of illicit arms and light weapons, combating financial, organised and cross-border crimes such as human and drug trafficking, money laundering and cyber crimes, among others.
