East African Community defence forces stage joint military training exercise with USAFRICOM - Defence forces of the East African Community (EAC) member states and the US Africa Command (USAFRICOM) will next week start a six-day joint training exercise at the Chukwani Military Centre in the offshore Island of Zanzibar with the aim of developing the capacity of the EAC armies to respond quickly to complex security challenges, it was officially announced here Friday.

Preparations were at an advanced stage for the training exercise, codenamed Natural Fire 11, with military officers from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania due to arrive in Zanzibar Saturday ahead of the official opening.

More than 300 military personnel from the five countries and the USAFRICOM will take part in Natural Fire 11, whose theme is to ensure security and foster regional stability, said the EAC Secretariat.

The event follows similar exercises held in the past in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania (Mainland).

“The exercise aims to develop the capacity of EAC Defence Forces to respond quickly and efficiently to complex security challenges, harmonize the working relationship among them and foster cooperation between these forces and the United States of America,” said Brigadier General Salvator Nahimana, chair of defence liaison officers at the EAC Secretariat,.

“Natural Fire 11 aims to enhance cooperation between regional defence forces, civil authorities and international organizations, and to improve interoperability between the forces,” he added.

According to Nahimana, the exercise would focus on peace support operations, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, counter terrorism and counter piracy between 17 and 20 September.

These joint exercises were first held in 1998 on a bilateral level between the US and Kenya and reconfigured in 1999 as a multilateral exercise involving Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Rwanda and Burundi were subsequently enrolled upon joining the East African Community in 2007.

Through the joint military training exercises, the EAC deepens cooperation of partner states in defence matters, guided by a specific memorandum of understanding signed in 1998 that specifies four areas of cooperation, namely, military training; joint operations; technical assistance; and visits (including sporting exchanges and range competitions) as well as exchange of information.

Pana 10/09/2011