Mogadishu, Somalia – Abdifatah Abdulkadir Farah, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, officially opened the 35th Ordinary Policy Organs Meeting of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) on Saturday.
Beginning with expert and technical sessions, the week-long strategic meeting is taking place from December 13-18 in Somalia’s capital.
During his opening remarks, Farah highlighted the key objectives of the session that brings together regional security experts.
He noted that discussions would focus on improving the regional force’s operational capabilities to effectively address emerging crises.
The technical committee is responsible for reviewing and developing complete work plans for the 2025-2026 period.
The agenda also involves thorough examination of the EASF budget, financial audit reports, and detailed evaluations on the impact of conflicts affecting regional member states.
This initial technical meeting sets the stage for high-level discussions in the coming days.
After the experts conclude their sessions, Chiefs of Defense Forces from EASF member nations will gather to address military strategy and operational preparedness.
The summit will conclude with a Council of Ministers meeting where defense ministers will approve important decisions concerning the regional security framework.
Hosting the EASF summit for the second time this year demonstrates Somalia’s return as a key player in Horn of Africa security affairs.
The federal government considers this ongoing participation as proof of its dedication to promoting peace, stability, and defense cooperation throughout East Africa.
The EASF is one of five regional elements of the African Standby Force, tasked with strengthening peace and security in Eastern Africa.
