East African Standby Force trains 1,029

East African Standby Force (EASF) has trained 1,029 military officers, police and civilians from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and other countries.

EASF ended the training at Gebeit Training Area in the Republic of the Sudan after participating in an exercise code named "MASHARIKI SALAAM 2" a press release issued yesterday said.

In a press release issued this afternoon, Brig Richard Karemire the the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs/ UPDF Spokesman said that the closing ceremony held on Sunday (Dec 3, 20 17) was presided over by Sudan's Minister of Defence,  Lt Gen Awad Mohamed Amed Ibin Oaf, who commended the  support and cooperation from EASF partner countries.

The course, he said He was a clear manifestation of their commitment towards peace and security in the region and the global community.

Guests present included Uganda's Minster of Defence and Veteran Affairs in charge of General Duties, Col (Rtd) Okello Engola and the UPDF Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi.

The first EASF exercise took place in 2009 in Djibouti after the first Command  Post Exercise (CPX) in Nairobi Kenya in 2008. The second was in Jinja, Uganda, in 2013 following the second CPX in Khartoum Sudan in 2011.

"MASHARIKI SALAAM 2 2017 is the third FTX and part of EASF strategy aimed at enabling it to maintain operational readiness and enhance interoperability," according to the press release.

The exercise, it said, involved 1029 (Military, Police, Civilians) participants drawn from 10  EASF member states of; Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda,  Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda. Uganda had a contingent of 106 personnel who included 63 UPDF, 32 Uganda Police Force (UPF) and 11 civilians.

The exercise specific objectives included validating the EASF Operational Concept and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS), validating mission sustainability and support concept as well as improving cooperation and interoperability between the equipment force elements and components of EASF.

Also validating Memorandum Of understanding (MoUs), Status of Forces  Agreements (SoFAs), legal and administrative arrangements that need to be in  place in the deployment of a force, enhancing awareness of the EASF within the region and the continent and maintaining and enhancing regional cohesion and cooperation.

The exercise was a replica of an EASF mission consisting of a multi dimensional  and multinational force elements drawn from EASF components as can be deployed  in a mission area, the press release said