The President of the Union of Comoros receives the New EASF Director

The President of the Union of Comoros, H.E Azali Assoumani had an audience, on 16^th May, 2023 at African Union Compound in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the new Director of Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), Brig Paul Kahuria Njema.

The EASF Director commended the leadership of HE President Azali, as Chairperson of the African Union Assembly of Heads of States and Governments, to highlight and prioritize the regional standby forces, as defined by the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). Brig Gen Njema briefed the Head of State on the Security Situation in the Region which includes among others the Republic of The Sudan, The Federal Republic of Somalia and The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as the readiness of the EASF to perform its mandate. The discussions raised also the possibility of the EASF Panel of Elders to be engaged in preventive diplomacy and conflict prevention.

The Meeting also emphasized the importance of peace and security for sustainable development and the regional integration of the entire Continent. H.E President Azali thus reaffirmed the unfailing support from the AU and the Union of Comoros for the Organization to fully assume its missions. The Head of State urged the EASF to strengthen its capacity and assure its readiness for any security situation in the Region and beyond.

H,E Azali Assoumani addressed other important issues that require special attention from the EASF such as non-traditional security as natural disasters, affecting the continent even more with its share of victims. On the significant threats at sea such as piracy, illegal fishing and ocean pollution, the Chairperson of the AU Assembly called for action from EASF. The Small Island Developing States (SIDS), such as Comoros and Seychelles, are the most affected.

In addition to the Director, the EASF delegation was also comprised of the Head of Administration and Finance, Col Mohamed Barkat Aden, the Liaison Officer at the AU Commission, Mr Vincent Dindon, and the Executive Assistant of the Director, Mr Irchad Ousseine Djoubeire.