Mogadishu, Somalia – Regional security experts gathered in Mogadishu under the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) framework are defining the organization’s operational priorities for 2026, with discussions poised to impact peace and security initiatives throughout the Horn of Africa.
The technical committee sessions, continuing their second day as part of the EASF’s 35th Ordinary Session, are assessing the regional security landscape and formulating the force’s operational strategy for the upcoming financial year.
Participants are also reviewing an external audit report, a process intended to enhance accountability and effectiveness within the regional security entity. A central emphasis of the deliberations is an impartial evaluation of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its repercussions on neighboring nations, revealing mounting apprehension about cross-border instability and its ramifications for East Africa.
Authorities indicate that the results of the technical sessions will directly inform higher-level decisions when Chiefs of Defence Forces and Defence Ministers from EASF member states meet later in the week to adopt resolutions and offer strategic direction.
Hosting the meeting in Mogadishu highlights Somalia’s expanding involvement in regional security collaboration, as the EASF seeks to bolster collective defense mechanisms and enhance preparedness to address emerging threats across Eastern Africa.
