KIGALI, June 13 (Xinhua) -- About 1,000 military and police personnel from four partner states of the East African Community (EAC) regional bloc on Thursday began a two-week joint military training exercise in eastern Rwanda.
The 13th edition of the EAC Armed Forces Field Training Exercise, code named Ushirikiano Imara, was launched at Rwanda Military Academy in Gako in Bugesera district under the theme, "Strengthening the security sector integration and harnessing common interests consistent with EAC regional peace and stability."
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Rwandan Minister of Defense Juvenal Marizamunda called for collaborative efforts within the region in view of contemporary security challenges.
"The importance of security in regional integration cannot be overstated. Indeed, no country can confront contemporary security challenges single-handedly. It is therefore essential for countries to come together as a region to address these security challenges collectively," he said.
He noted that the exercise presents an opportunity to bolster partnerships and interoperability, enabling the region to effectively respond to any potential threats.
The participants are from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. The training to run through June 26 will also be conducted in Rubavu district in western Rwanda for the maritime exercise.
Col. Deng Mayom Manyam, the defense liaison officer of the South Sudanese People's Defense Force at the EAC, who represented the bloc's secretary general at the ceremony, said that the areas of cooperation are entrenched in the protocol, focusing on four pillars including military training, joint operations, technical cooperation, visits and exchange of information.
The annual exercise aims to enhance the state of readiness and interoperability of the EAC partner states' armed forces, police, civilian components and other stakeholders in responding to complex and multidimensional security challenges, according to the Rwandan Ministry of Defense. ■
