On 31 March – 1 April 2022 ACCORD formed part of the African Union Commission (AUC) African Standby Force (ASF) delegation that visited the East African Standby Force (EASF) for 2 days in Nairobi, Kenya. The delegation was led by the ASF Chief of Staff, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Brian Chikonzo. The purpose of the ASF Delegation’s visit to the EASF was to build-on the AU’s concerted efforts at improving coordination with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs)/Regional Mechanisms (RMs) to enhance the operationalization of the ASF.
The first day of the visit involved an observation, briefing and closing ceremony of the EASF Command Post Exercise (CPX), Code-named ‘MASHARIKI SALAAM III’ that took place in the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Leadership Training Center, Nairobi, Kenya from 21-31 March 2022. The CPX exercise involved the deployment of the Standby Force in East Africa from the ten EASF Member States emulating an actual Peace Operation Command Post in planning, executing and coordinating different scenarios. The second day of the visit involved strategic discussions between EASF Secretariat and ASF delegation. The delegation reviewed challenges, opportunities and gaps in the existing relations between the EASF and the ASF. In their closing statements, both the EASF and the ASF agreed that the strategic visit from the AUC should be the first of many in coordinating and enhancing the African Standby Force for Peace Operations in Africa.
