The East Africa Standby Force (EASF) field training exercise dubbed “Mashariki Salaam II 2017” has officially been lauched at the Gebeit Military Training base in the Eastern Region of the Republic of the Sudan.
A total of 10 Eastern African countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Comoros, Seychelles, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and the Sudan the host nation are taking part in the exercise.
Lt Gen Yahya Mohamed Khair Sudan’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Chairman of EASF Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff said “the exercise will help EASF to complete its readiness towards carrying out its assigned tasks with regards to Peace keeping”.
Lt Gen Yahya was chief guest at the official openning of the exercise last Friday at the Gebeit Training centre.
The Director EASF Dr. Abdillahi Omar Bouh in his remarks highlighted the importance of the exercise.
“The exercise will enhance awareness of EASF within the region and beyond as well as maintaining and enhancing regional cohesion and co-operation,” he said.
The function was attended by officials from EASF secretariat, technical advisors, EASF headquarters component commanders, planning element leaders, Sudan armed forces leaders and international partners.
Established in 2004, EASF is one of the regional multi dimensional forces of the African Standby Force assigned to enhance Peace and Security in the Eastern African Region.
