Musanze, 18 June 2023

Today, EAC member states Armed Forces, police personnel and civilians have kicked off an East African Community (EAC) 13th Armed Forces Command Post Exercise (CPX) “USHIRIKIANO IMARA” scheduled for two weeks from 18-30 June 2023 in Musanze district.

Five contingents from Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda (which is the host) brought together over 600 army, police and civilian participants.

The exercise aims at enhancing interoperability in joint planning and conduct of operations, practicing EAC Standard Operating Procedures at operational and tactical levels and promoting EAC integration agenda and its awareness among the key objectives.

While officiating the opening ceremony, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Rwanda, Hon Juvenal Marizamunda reiterated that contemporary security challenges have shown that no individual nation can operate in isolation.

“The global human security trends of recent have become so fragile and unpredictable due to fast changing political, economic and social security dynamics, and this call for concerted efforts in preparing to curtail or address any security concerns. The emergence of new changes, new contexts for peace support operations such as huge humanitarian crises and a range of other human security risks require a multidimensional, comprehensive and integrated approach, where all mission components have a common strategic plan and a shared understanding of priorities,” said Hon Marizamunda.

The exercise was carried out under the theme, "Strengthening the Security Sector integration and harnessing common interests consistent with EAC regional peace and stability".