EAC and RECSA to enhance cooperation on cross-border security matters
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 27th August, 2021: The Executive Secretary of the Centre on Small Arms in the Great Lakes Region, Horn of Africa and Bordering States (RECSA), Lt Gen Badreldin Elamin, on Thursday paid a courtesy call on the EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The two officials discussed several issues touching on regional peace and security including the implementation of the Nairobi Protocol for the prevention, control and reduction of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa.
The Secretary General commended RESCA for their commitment in preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit manufacturing of, trafficking in, possession and use of small arms and light weapons in the sub-region.
“RESCA plays a very important role in the EAC regional integration agenda, for integration will never work if there are no systems in place to ensure there is peace and security for the people of the region,” said Dr. Mathuki.
Dr. Mathuki reaffirmed the EAC’s commitment to enhancing cooperation between the EAC and RESCA, nothing the need for the two institutions to develop a cooperation framework that will guide the joint implementation of activities in the region.
On his part, Lt Gen Badreldin Elamin hailed the long standing partnership between the EAC and RESCA in the peace and security sector, which he said was a key enabler to the integration process in East Africa.
The Executive Secretary noted the need for collaboration in implementing programmes that address cross-border as well as pre- and post-election security challenges in the region.
The EAC-RESCA cooperation framework is set to provide for areas of cooperation on matters of peace and security in the region, including initiatives focused on disarming the mindset, ensuring compliance to instruments governing peace and security as well as establishment of information sharing mechanisms that will facilitate rapid and timely response to cross-border threats.
The EAC and RESCA partnership has implemented various programmes targeting illicit small arms and light weapons in the past including: a regional standard firearms marking system that can easily identify and trace fire arms; the destruction of small arms and light weapons in post-conflict societies; as well as voluntary civilian disarmament initiatives.
ABOUT REGIONAL CENTRE ON SMALL ARMS (RECSA)
The Regional Centre on Small Arms in the Great Lakes Region, Horn of Africa and Bordering States (RECSA) is an intergovernmental organization that was established in June 2005 and is mandated to coordinate the implementation of the Nairobi Protocol for the prevention, control and reduction of small arms and light weapons in the Great Lakes Region, Horn of Africa and Bordering States.
Currently, RECSA comprises 15 Member States including; Burundi, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka
Senior Public Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 768 552087
Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001: 2015 Certified