According to the budget framework, the 10 member states will jointly contribute USD 109,000 (2.94%), about 387 million Ugandan shillings of the total budget. The EASF Peace Fund is expected to provide USD 60,000 (1.62%), and the African Peace and Security Architecture – APSA will remit the lion share of up to USD 2,009,000 about 7.142 billion shillings (54.19%).
The Delegates consisting of the Military, Police and Civilian components pose for group photo after concluding five days 30th Ordinary Session of Policy Organs Meetings in Munyonyo, Kampala. Photo by Dominic Ochola
The
Eastern Africa Standby Force – EASF curators have pitched to funders 13 billion
Ugandan Shillings, about USD 3.7 million to enable her finance various activities
in 2022.
On Friday 17 December, the delegates who consist of the Military,
Police and Civilian components concluded five days of the
30th Ordinary Session of Policy Organs' high-level
meetings of Experts Working Group; Council of Minister of Defense and Security,
and Chiefs of Defence (CDFs) at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.
Despite the prevailing funding constraints over the years compounded by the global Covid-19 pandemic, the curators approved
a resolution to solicit for USD 3.7 million to facilitate the implementation of activities such as
supporting creation of Command Post Exercise 2022, codenamed ‘Mashariki
Salaam’, loosely translating as Peace in the East, to be established in
the Republic Kenya.
One significant priority area will be convening the meeting
of the EASF Assembly of the Heads of State to deliberate on strengthening the
EASF capacity in addressing the security challenges in the region.
They include
current unrest in Sudan and acts of terror in member states like Uganda, capacity
building trainings and recruitments among others.
Notably, some of the sources of fund for the budget includes remittances
from the 10 member states namely; Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda,
Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda. However, some of them have in the past defaulted on their financial obligations.
Djboutian
Gen. Taher Ali Mohamed, the outgoing Chairperson of the Committee of Chiefs of Defence, rallied
the member states to honour their obligations to the EASF and remit their
assessed contributions timely to enable effective running of the affairs of the
organization.
Brig.
Gen. Getachew Fayisa, the Director of EASF, emphasized that the noble function of the EASF is being affected by funding deficits, forcing it to rely on the
European Union and other partners for of financial backing putting their future
sustainability at stake.
//Cue in; “During this…//
Cue out…prevention mission.”//
Meanwhile, Jacob Marksons
Oboth, Uganda’s Minister of State in-charge of General Duties in the Ministry
of Defence and Veteran Affairs who addressed the delegates pledged Uganda’s
continued commitment and support towards the great achievements of the EASF mandate
in promoting peace, stability and security in the region.
//Cue in; “We need all the…//
Cue out…a diplomatic arrangement.”//
According to the budget framework, the 10 member states will jointly
contribute USD 109,000 (2.94%), about 387 million Ugandan shillings of the
total budget. The EASF Peace Fund is expected to provide USD 60,000 (1.62%), and
the African Peace and Security Architecture – APSA will remit a lion share of up to USD 2,009,000 about 7.142
billion shillings (54.19%).
APSA relies
on external sources financially, for instance in in 2015, 95% of the total AU
budget was financed by external partners such as EU, EU member states, Japan
and China.
Equally in 2016 to date, external financing was estimated to amount
to 52% of the budget.
Several
other development partners who have been
approached and confirmed to contribute to the budget thus: Denmark - USD 672,500 (18.14%); Finland - USD 140,000 (3.78%), Norway - USD 190,000 (5.13%),
United Kingdom - USD 40,000 (1.08%), other partners - USD 471,500 (12.72%), and
Sweden - USD 15,000 (0.40%), all totaling to USD 3,707,000 (13,179 billion).
Established in 2004, the EASF is one of the five regional multidimensional Forces of the African Standby Force (ASF) and heavily relies on member state revenue remittances and external funding to implement its goal and strategic objectives to enhance peace and security in the Eastern Africa region.
The proposed 31th Ordinary Session of Policy Organs' high-level meetings
will take place in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis-Ababa on a date yet to be agreed
upon by the EASF member states in 2022.
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and latr Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
