Seychelles ready to take over EASF chairmanship |31 October 2014

Seychelles will in April next year take over the rotational chairmanship of the Nairobi-based Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) secretariat for one year.

Speaking about Seychelles taking over the chairmanship of the organisation, Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam said the country is ready for this task and is confident in delivering on its responsibilities despite the many challenges that lie ahead.

Rwanda is the current chair of the force initiated 10 years ago following one of the decisions of the African Union’s (AU) heads of States and Government 2004 summit. It is one of the AU’s five peace keeping mechanisms that have the responsibility of attaining full operational capability by December 2015.

Other than Seychelles and Rwanda, the countries which make up the EASF are Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, Comoros, Sudan, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Representatives of those countries met last week during a conference at the Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa to discuss the modalities of attaining full operational capability (FOC).

In fact there were three separate meetings. The first was the policy organs meeting (POM) of the EASF experts working group and it was tasked with going over all the aspects of the new structuring and framework of the EASF and present its recommendations to the meeting of the Chiefs of Defence Forces (CDF). The regulations which will guide the different aspects of the work of the EASF and a funding mechanism entitled the Peace Fund were presented to the Chiefs of Defence Forces at the end of the meeting.

The final draft of the strategic plan of the force was also presented to the chiefs of defence forces for consideration and recommendation to the council of ministers for defence for the EASF member states which met last Friday for approval.

All member states contribute towards the force on a ratio basis but because it is unable to commit many personnel to the force which now stands at 5,200, Seychelles will be sending 10 military officers and 10 police officers to ease the work of the secretariat.

The country will also make available its smallest tanker – Seychelles Paradise – to supply the force with fuel whenever it is deployed for any mission.
Minister Adam said Seychelles will bear the cost for the first month as well as for any other contribution it makes, but after that the force will take over the financial responsibility.

Minister Adam also said maritime safety is the key to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

“All member states of the EASF have the common concern of maritime safety be they coastal or landlocked because our oceans are the primary routes of trade and commerce and ensuring peace and stability in our region is a means of making sure that we can benefit from the vast potentials which the oceans represent under the blue economy concept which Seychelles is championing and is receiving the support of many countries,” noted Minister Adam.

Once operational by December 2014 the force will have the mandate to help member states in ensuring peace and security in the region.

EASF director Chanfi Issimail said the proposed strategic plan has a four-pillar approach with each having its own goal, which in turn has specific strategic objectives.

“After attainment of full operational capability, a new roadmap is necessary. We need to define the way forward. We need to be clear in our move as an organisation. We need to be sure of and secure, as a force, of the course of our action,” said Mr Issimail.