EAC intelligence chiefs meet

By Raymond Baguma

THE East African region is still faced with security threats from Al-Qaeda, Al-Shaabab, rebel groups like interahamwe, LRA, ADF, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, livestock rustling, the Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Aronda Nyakairima has said.

Nyakairima was speaking at the opening of the meeting of East African Community (EAC) chiefs and directors of military intelligence in Kampala on Monday.

According to a statement by the UPDF spokesperson Col. Felix Kulayigye, the meeting is to enable the security chiefs share intelligence on security threats, particularly on terrorism.

Present were Col. Cyrus Oguna from the Kenya military intelligence, Col Martin Mwankanye from Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces, Brig Gen. Ildephonse Habarurema from Burundi National Defence Force. There was also a representative from Rwanda Defence Forces.

Gen. Nyakairima said, “As enablers of this peace and security we are to constantly keep watch for any element that may want to destabilise the region and impede this progress.”

The EAC member states have made gains in security cooperation marked by visits, carrying out joint training and exercises, culture and sports activities and intelligence meetings, Gen. Nyakairima said.

The Kampala meeting is a follow-up of an earlier one held in November last year in the Burundian capital Bujumbura and draws its mandate from Memorandum of Cooperation in Defence in the EAC which require member states to exchange information.

Nyakairima said that the cooperation in defence has helped build mutual trust amongst EAC member states, boosted intelligence gathering and sharing, trade, establishing the Regional Defence Counter-Terrorism Centre in Nairobi, tourism, diplomatic relations and education.