Chiefs of Defence Forces (CDFs) and Military Intelligence (CMIs) from the six countries in the East African Community have met with Chairman from the bloc, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni for a strategic way forward in regards to the crisis in DR. Congo.
The meeting was headlined by the threat posed by the Islamic Allied Democratic Forces(ADF) who mainly operate in DRC but have been slowly expanding their scope to include attacks in Uganda. The ADF was responsible for an attack that killed Tanzanian peacekeepers.
The ADF has been termed as an enemy and threat to the region and as such require coordinate response to ensure that it doesn’t accelerate to the level of Al Shabaab in Somalia. The ADF is also reported to be in alliance with elements of Al-Shabaab as well as the ISIS, according to a statement by the UPDF deputy spokesperson, Lt Col Deo Akiiki.
The meeting recognized the necessity to bilaterally and multilaterally engage and build a secure environment conducive for the socio-economic development in the region. The meeting further urged countries that have not deployed their officers to the Joint Follow up Mechanism in Kasese, to do so without delay.
