Changing Security Dynamics Demand Concerted Efforts To Be Addressed Says Rwanda Defence Minister

The Rwanda Minister of Defence Honourable Juvenal Marizamunda has said the fast-changing political, economic, and social security dynamics call for concerted efforts to be addressed. The Minister was speaking during the official opening of the East African Community Command Post Exercise at the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College, Musanze.

The Command Post Exercise is under the theme: “Strengthening the Security Sector Integration and Harnessing Common Interests Consistent with EAC Regional Peace and Stability.”

The exercise simulates a mission based on a hypothetic state that is affected by a political crisis and is designed based on Peace Support Operations (PSO) counter-terrorism, counter-piracy, and disaster management.

Hon. Maziramunda thanked the partner States for the confidence and trust they exhibited by accepting Rwanda to host the exercise, which is the region’s signature and most important multi-lateral exercise.

He said that the emergency of new changes and conflicts requires a multi-dimensional, comprehensive and integrated approach where all mission components have a common strategic plan and a shared understanding of priorities, adding that, the contemporary security challenges have shown us that no individual nation can operate in isolation. “It is in this context therefore; that the concept of integrated mission was designed to facilitate a coherent system and wide approach towards assisting countries experiencing or emerging from conflict on their path to peace and conflict recovery,” said Hon Marizamunda

The Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force, Lt Gen Mubarakh Muganga said that the exercise must mirror the current operation requirements, priorities and should encourage a coordinated and synchronized action of different aspects of political, social and economic development in a conflict environment.

He urged the participants to learn, share experiences and improve their professional knowledge in order to serve better their nations and the region.

The EAC Secretary General representative Maj General Ally Katimbe applauded the EAC which has always organized a series of joint military exercises since 2005.

He also thanked the EAC partner states that sent contingents for the exercise to address military challenges that help to build required capabilities. “It must be mentioned here that the EAC Defence Forces have gone beyond exercises and are now operating together in several missions such as in Somalia, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and elsewhere,” he added.

He urged the participants to maximize the benefits of this golden opportunity, share what is beneficial to fellow participants and get as much as possible especially those from a different profession.

In attendance were; Hon Jacob Maxson Oboth Oboth Minister of State for Defence Republic of Uganda, Hon Eng Tribert Mutabazi Minister of Defence Republic of Burundi, Drancilla Nyirarugero Governor Northern Province Republic of Rwanda, Brig Gen Dr Emmanuel T Shillingi Uganda Defence Advisor to Rwanda and Defence Liaison Officers to the EAC Secretariat among others.