Defence minister calls for strong regional military cooperation

The EAC military cooperation should be taken as a key ingredient in the regional integration process, Defence Minister Gen James Kabarebe said yesterday. He was closing the regional military training that has been ongoing for the last two weeks at Rwanda Military Academy-Gako.Kabarebe urged participants to apply the experience gained from the training to strengthen the regional armed forces cooperation.“The experience gained from this exercise should be an added value to enhance the cooperation among the EAC armed forces and it should help realise the political solution to our east African region now than ever before,” the Minister said.“This exercise has provided you with capacity and professionalism to go ahead and provide what our people need; that is security and welfare,” he said.The EAC Field Training Exercise (FTX) codenamed Ushirikiano Imara attracted 1,680 armed forces personnel and civilians from the five partner states of Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and Rwanda. The closing ceremony, graced by regional ministers of defence and commanders of EAC armies and diplomats was preceded by commissioning of a three classroom block at Dihiro Secondary School in Gashora Sector that was constructed by the officers.The training was aimed at improving the capabilities of EAC partner states’ armed forces to combat complex security challenges that might besiege the region.Participants trained in various areas like peacekeeping, counter piracy, disaster management and counter terrorism.The exercise director, Maj. Gen Jacques Musemakweli, said they had achieved their objective. “I want to report confidently that the objective of the exercise was achieved. We planted 4,500 trees in the areas of operation, we treated 3,927 patients in the district as well as constructed classrooms,” he said.He added that the participants had understood the proper management of security complexes that might occur in the region through training as well as interacting together as regional forces.The Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), Lt. Gen Charles Kayonga, said the peacekeeping component of the training was important especially to regional forces currently on peace missions in various countries in Africa and beyond.Meanwhile, the guests and participants observed a one minute silence in honour of a Tanzanian soldier who died during the training. Private Kaila Ally Shabani died on the official opening of the exercise.

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Defence minister calls for strong regional military cooperation