Djibouti EASBRIG military exercises pushed ahead

The Eastern African Standby Brigade (EASBRIG) military exercises earlier scheduled for between November 16 and 29 in Djibouti, have been postponed, The New Times has learnt. This was confirmed Friday by Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) spokesperson, Maj. Jill Rutaremara.

Saturday, November 21, 2009
CONFIRMED POSTPONEMENT: Maj. Jill Rutaremara

The Eastern African Standby Brigade (EASBRIG) military exercises earlier scheduled for between November 16 and 29 in Djibouti, have been postponed, The New Times has learnt.

This was confirmed Friday by Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) spokesperson, Maj. Jill Rutaremara.

"The exercise was postponed to sometime later this month – our forces are ready and the airlifting of our personnel and equipment is set for November 24t,” Rutaremara said Friday.

"It is the ministers of defence and chiefs of defence staffs (CDSs) who fixed the date – the exercise will now start on November 25 and end on December 7.”

The Rwandan contingent of 176 soldiers, will be led by Lt. Col. Rugumya Gacinya.

EASBRIG is presently working to develop a fully operational multi-dimensional and integrated standby force that will be ready for deployment by 2015, with an initial operational capability by 2010.

EASBRIG’s 13 member countries – Rwanda, Djibouti, Comoros, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, Burundi, Sudan and Uganda, aim to develop a continental capability to respond to crises like conflicts and disasters.

Ends