EASF Inducts Second Cohort of the Panel of Elders in Naivasha, Kenya

From 11–13 November 2025, the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) held an important induction workshop in Naivasha, Kenya, to officially welcome the 2nd Cohort of the EASF Panel of Elders. The workshop was opened by the Director of the EASF Secretariat, who thanked the Guest of Honor, EASF Policy Organs, and key partners, the African Union Commission (Peace Fund) and the Royal Kingdom of Denmark, for their continued support to regional peacebuilding.

The Director highlighted the vital role of the Panel of Elders within the broader African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). He noted that the Panel, modeled after the AU Panel of the Wise, plays a crucial role in conflict prevention, mediation, and supporting political stability across Eastern Africa.

Over the past three years, the outgoing Panel has contributed significantly through election observer engagements and a fact-finding mission on the spillover effects of conflict in the region. The new cohort, endorsed by the EASF Council of Ministers in July 2025, will build on this progress.

During the workshop, participants discussed the EASF Strategic Plan 2026–2030, regional peace and security developments, lessons from the AU Panel of the Wise, and developed an Action Plan for the next three years.