By Prosper Makene – Nairobi
The 14th EAC Armed Forces Command Post Exercise – USHIRIKIANO IMARA 2026 is expected to further deepen cooperation among EAC partner states and reinforce the shared vision of a peaceful, secure, and resilient East African region.
Hon. Ambassador Lindsay Kiptiness, Head of Mission for the 14th EAC Armed Forces Command Post Exercise – Ushirikiano Imara 2026, has called on East African Community (EAC) member states to continue strengthening unity, cooperation, and collective preparedness in addressing emerging threats, disasters, and security challenges that may undermine regional peace and stability.
Ambassador Kiptiness made the remarks on May 11, 2026, during a reception for participants of the 14th EAC Armed Forces Command Post Exercise – Ushirikiano Imara 2026, which officially commenced in Nairobi, Kenya.
The high-level exercise has brought together senior defense and security personnel from all seven EAC partner states: Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, Rwanda, Somalia, and South Sudan. The main objective is to enhance regional cooperation and improve joint response mechanisms to complex security threats currently facing the region.
Speaking during the event, Ambassador Kiptiness underscored the strategic importance of the exercise in strengthening the future security architecture of the East African Community. He noted that the evolving nature of global and regional security challenges demands that EAC member states work more closely than ever in safeguarding peace, stability, and the wellbeing of their citizens.
“The security landscape is changing fast. Threats today are transnational, ranging from terrorism and cybercrime to climate-induced disasters and pandemics. No single country can address them alone,” Ambassador Kiptiness said. “Ushirikiano Imara is our practical answer to that reality.”
He further explained that ongoing conflicts and instability in various parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East and other conflict-prone regions, continue to have direct and indirect effects on the economies, security, and livelihoods of people within the EAC bloc. Rising fuel prices, disrupted supply chains, and forced migration are among the ripple effects felt in East Africa.
Ambassador Kiptiness stressed that such developments highlight the urgent need for stronger regional solidarity, real-time information sharing, and coordinated security responses among partner states. “Peace in Juba is peace in Nairobi. Stability in Mogadishu secures Dar es Salaam. We are one region, one people,” he added.
The Ambassador also emphasized that the USHIRIKIANO IMARA 2026 exercise provides a critical platform for military and security institutions within the EAC to strengthen operational coordination, enhance strategic planning, and build mutual trust among participating countries. The command post exercise simulates real-life scenarios, including peace support operations, counter-terrorism, disaster response, and humanitarian assistance.
He said the exercise demonstrates the region’s collective commitment to maintaining peace and responding effectively to both conventional and emerging security threats. It also tests the readiness of the EAC Standby Force and aligns with the African Union’s peace and security architecture.
He reaffirmed that peace and security remain fundamental pillars for sustainable development, regional integration, trade, and economic prosperity within the East African Community. He urged member states to continue investing in joint initiatives aimed at promoting stability, preventing conflicts, and strengthening disaster preparedness and humanitarian response mechanisms across the region.
“Without peace, there is no trade. Without security, there is no investment. Our economic blueprint as EAC depends on how safe our borders and our people are,” Ambassador Kiptiness concluded.
The 14th EAC Armed Forces Command Post Exercise – USHIRIKIANO IMARA 2026 runs for two weeks and will culminate in a series of strategic recommendations to the EAC Council of Ministers responsible for Defence and Security.
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