By Emmy Allio

A meeting in Kigali of intelligence chiefs from 10 eastern African countries have resolved to arrest terrorist groups like the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and Hutu Interahamwe militias.

The third regional Counter Terrorism Conference which was held in Kigali on September 14 to 15, was opened by Rwandan President Paul Kagame. It resolved “to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and refrain from supporting any identified terrorist individual or organisation.”

The conference was attended by security chiefs from Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Egypt, Madagascar, the DR Congo, Burundi, Kenya and Uganda.
The Deputy Director General of External Security Organisation, Robert Masolo, represented Uganda.

The conference also adopted a five-year plan of action starting 2006, during which they intend to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation, integrate technology in counter-terrorism efforts, ensure regional security and information exchange.

Under regional security, the spy chiefs agreed to harmonise regional cooperation and coordination among their countries’ intelligence services.