APA – Kigali (Rwanda) East African member states Armed Forces, police personnel and civilians on Monday concluded a two-week long Command Post Exercise (CPX) “USHIRIKIANO IMARA” in Musanze district, northern Rwanda.
The troops from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi have been joined by civilians in the two-week-long exercise at the Rwanda military command and staff College Nyakinama in northern Rwanda.
The exercise aims at enhancing interoperability in joint planning and conduct of operations, practicing EAC Standard Operating Procedures at operational and tactical levels and promoting EAC integration agenda and its awareness among the key objectives.
While officiating the closing ceremony, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Rwanda, Juvénal Marizamunda said that the exercise has reinforced the notion that through collaboration and mutual support, partner states can overcome any obstacle that threatens the stability and security of our region.
“By engaging in integrated exercises, we have not only honed our operational efficiency but also forged strong bonds of trust and friendship among our military, police and civilian personnel. The problem of ensuring common security has been a matter of concern for all ages but the twenty-first century has defied all the benchmarks as we knew them,” said Marizamunda.
The drills, which have been conducted since 2005 under various themes, are conducted in accordance with the EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defense Affairs. The exercises are conducted on a rotational basis among the partner states every two years.
CU/as/APA