Eastern Africa States Urged To Strengthen Regional Security Mechanisms

What the report says

Uganda’s Chief of Joint Staff, Lt. Gen. Jack Bakasumba, has called on Eastern African states to reinforce regional security systems and work more closely together as new threats emerge. He made the remarks in Kampala while opening the 36th Ordinary Policy Working Group meeting of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), where representatives from member states are discussing reforms to improve the region’s peace and security framework.

According to Watchdog Uganda, Bakasumba said the region needs institutions that can anticipate future risks as well as respond to current instability. He linked peace, security and development, arguing that stronger regional institutions are an investment in long-term resilience and economic progress. He also reaffirmed Uganda’s support for the EASF and the African Union’s peace and security agenda, while urging member states to build a more responsive security architecture.

The EASF director, Brig. Gen. Ronald Rwivanga, also pressed for greater African self-reliance, saying external support for peace operations is declining and countries must be prepared to assume more responsibility for their own security. He said the changing environment should be seen as an opportunity for the standby force to prove its readiness.

The meeting is expected to inform policy decisions on reforms, including resource mobilisation, finance and service regulations, with recommendations moving to higher EASF decision-making bodies. In general, the EASF is a regional mechanism created to support peace operations and collective security in Eastern Africa.