Ordinary Meeting of Friends of EASF

The ordinary meeting of the Friends of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) took place on 18th July 2019, at the Hotel Southern Sun Mayfair in Nairobi, Kenya.

The aim of the meeting was to highlight to the strategic partners and Friends of EASF the status on implementation of the activity plan since January 2019, preparations of EASF as the Continental Standby Force that started from July 1st up to December 31st 2019, to update the key decisions of the 26th Policy Organs Meeting which was conducted in Bujumbura, Burundi from 8th – 12th July 2019 and to discuss relevant issues relating to the organization. These included finding ways to attract countries in supporting the objectives of the organization.

The EASF Director Dr. Abdillahi Omar Bouh thanked the participants of the meeting for their attendance despite their busy schedules. This clearly demonstrated their commitment to support EASF in order to maintaining and sustaining multidimensional and integrated capacity to respond to emerging crises in the region and beyond.

The Director highlighted the remarkable achievements and also challenges currently facing the organization. EASF was founded with the vision to contribute to regional and continental peace, security and stability as well as regional integration. Dr. Bouh informed the audience that the organization aspires to build and enhance its capacity for conflict prevention, mediation and resolution.

In his opening remarks, the Chairperson of ‘Friends of EASF’ who is also the Danish Defence Attaché to Kenya, Col. Joern Rasmussen noted that EASF does extensive trainings every year that help to ensure the regional peace-keeper is well prepared, equipped and ready to deploy at anytime, anywhere on the continent should need arise. Colonel Rasmussen expressed his appreciation of the entire EASF fraternity including the Technical Advisers of EASF for their hard work which has catapulted the organization to where it is now.

According to the EASF Strategic Plan of 2015 – 2020, the NORDIC countries will continue to support the Standby Force both financially and technically even if some programs will be terminated, Colonel Rasmussen said.

The Friends of EASF meeting was attended by representatives and Defence Attachés from Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, Denmark, Finland, France, India, Kenya, Somalia, Turkey, United Kingdom, including Technical Advisors and EASF Staff.

Photo Gallery: Ordinary Meeting of Friends of EASF