Regional Course on Maritime Search and Rescue

EASF Maritime Officers participated in a course on Maritime Search and Rescue conducted at the Rwanda Peace Academy from 2nd to 6th December 2013. The course was a collaborative effort between the Eastern Africa Standby Force Coordination Mechanism (EASFCOM), the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden), and the Rwanda Peace Academy.

The aim of the course was to train and equip military officers at operational level with skills that enable them to respond to any emergencies or distress at sea and is an important aspect of maritime safety operations. The course was conducted within the broader context of peace support operations and is therefore expected to enhance regional maritime safety and security.

Twenty-three military officers from eight Eastern Africa Standby Force member states took part in the course. The participating countries were Burundi, Uganda, Djibouti, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, and the Republic of Comoros.