East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 19 October 2012: A two-week regional military field training exercised codenamed Ushirikiano Imara 2012 is underway at the Rwanda Military Academy, Gako, in Eastern Province as well as Lake Kivu in Rubavu District in Western Province.

The military exercise, which has brought together 1,680 armed forces personnel and civilians, is aimed at improving the capabilities of EAC partner states’ armed forces to combat complex security challenges that might besiege the regional bloc.

The exercise was flagged off by Rwanda’s Minister of Defense, General James Kabarebe. At the official flag-off, the EAC Secretary General Amb. Dr Richard Sezibera urged Partner States to ratify the Protocol on Defense and deposit the instruments of ratification with the Secretary General’s Office before 30 November 2012 as agreed.

The opening ceremony was graced by regional top military officers, Ministers, Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Ambassadors and the general public.

Full text of Amb. Sezibera’s speech can be accessed here

Do you have a story or an article to publish? Please email us to submit@in2eastafrica.net.