Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kampala (Agenzia Fides) – The member countries of the East Africa Community (EAC) have decided to create a standby brigade to end conflicts in the area and fight against the piracy in the Indian Ocean. The decision came at the end of a Conference dedicated to peace and security, which was celebrated last week in Kampala, the capital of Uganda.
The nations of the EAC (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi) contribute to two of the five peacekeeping brigades of the African Union, to which they hope to add another new standby brigade that falls under the auspices of the East Africa Community. The area of the operation of the new division is Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean, area characterized by the presence of Somali piracy and the instability of areas like Somalia and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Moreover, one of the EAC countries – Burundi - that recently emerged from a decade of civil war, is preparing to hold elections in 2010, with a certain apprehension for possible political violence. They recall the post-electoral violence of Kenya in those first months of 2008. The new brigade of the EAC will have to intervene to reestablish peace conditions and assure respect for the accords among the contenders.
The military brigade may receive logistical support and guidance from AFRICOM (United States African Command), which just recently organized an important drill with the Ugandan Army in Kitgum (northern Uganda). The new brigade should be officially established in the upcoming Summit of the Community's Heads of State.
Among the other recommendations that have occurred in the Kampala Conference, is the formation of a group of independent observers to control respect for democratic laws and healthy governing on the part of member countries. Moreover, the EAC wishes to follow in the footsteps of the European Union and create one monetary form by 2012. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 15/10/2009)
