Somalia takes over leadership of East African Standby Force from Rwanda
By Hassan Mohamed |
In June this year, Somalia won a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and will begin its two-year term in 2025.
For the first time in its history, Somalia will lead the East African Standby Force (EASF) after taking the chairmanship of the EASF Ministers of Defence Council on Saturday from Rwanda in a colourful ceremony held in Kigali.
Somalia's Minister of Defence Abdikadir Mohamed Nur was symbolically handed the EASF tools of power, which is the East Africa flag, to symbolise taking over the mantle of securing the East African region's peace and stability after taking over the chairmanship from his Rwandan counterpart Juvenal Marizamunda.
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Earlier this year, Somalia joined the East African Community (EAC), becoming the 8th full member. This latest position comes as a benefit of being a full member of EAC.
EASF is a regional organisation that aims to improve peace and security in the East Africa region. It is one of the forces of the African Standby Force (ASF) made up of military, police and civilian components.
The EASF's mandate is to rapidly deploy forces for preventive deployment, peace enforcement, peace support and stability operation, and rapid intervention. Its secretariat is based in Nairobi.
In a statement shared with the media, Somalia's Ministry of Information said Abdikadir took over the EASF mantle during the organisation's 33rd annual meeting.
"Somalia will for the first time chair the Defence Ministers of EASF since the organisation's formation 20 years ago. Minister Abdikadir thanked his predecessor and promised to closely work with EASF member states. Minister Abdikadir has extended an invitation for Somalia to host the next EASF meeting," the statement said.
Somalis have welcomed the news regarding their country's latest stewardship role within the EASF.
"This is very good news for us and we are extremely proud. It shows how far we have come as a nation from being a failed state to now being trusted with such key international positions," Mohamed Ibrahim, a university student in Mogadishu, told The Eastleigh Voice.
Somalia is gradually gaining international trust and with more global attention and responsibilities as the Horn of Africa country continues its positive trajectory towards stability.
In June this year, Somalia won a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and will begin its two-year term in 2025.
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