ESAF says ready to deploy and intervene where needed in East Africa
December 10, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – In a meeting held in the Sudanese capital, the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Thursday announced it is now ready for action where is needed.
“Our forces are ready for engagement to maintain the peace process in the region, anytime,’’ Chanfi further stressed.
Formation of the ESAF force began in April this year from troops drawn from Africa’s Central Region , known as East and Central African states.
It was formed in implementation of the African Union Peace and Security Council Protocol .
ESAF is part of five similar military forces representing Africa’s five geographical regions, each is working independently from the others, but within the African Union’s peacekeeping force.
“We now have five thousand men under arms who have been trained carefully , especially military-wise,’’ said Chanfi during the celebrations marking the ESAF International Day, held here.
“We are ready to deploy when asked to and we are also ready to boost development processes in Africa,’’ he added.
The force is made up of three components :military, police and civil servants .It is part of Africa’s reserve forces, said Chanfi.
EASF member states are Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.
The Republic of South Sudan has the status of an observer and, Since April 2013,. The new nation is expected to become a full member shortly, preventive deployment in order to prevent
The ESAF’s mandate includes observation and monitoring missions; intervention in a Member State in respect of grave circumstances or at the request of a Member State in order to restore peace and security, and preventive deployment in order to prevent a conflict from escalating and spreading to neighbouring areas or States.
Speaking on the occasion , Sudan’s Vice-President Hasabo Abdel –Rahman expressed his country’s readiness to support this force.
“Out of a strong political will-power Sudan supports the ESAF force,’’ he said.
He said peace is a strategic objective for Sudan.
“Africa is facing tremendous security threats such as terror, money laundering and human trafficking , but with the strong will of its sons our Continent is capable of overcoming those threats,’’ added the Sudanese official.
He complained that ” the U.S.A had imposed an unjust siege upon Sudan, but, regardless, we are committed to fight terrorism and we have scored big successes in this.’’
He concluded by urging the World’s major powers to lift the sanctions imposed on Sudan.
(ST)