Wilfred Edwin
6 September 2008
Nairobi — More than 60 counter-terrorism experts from East Africa are meeting in Dar es Salaam this week to discuss ways of combating terrorism in the region.
Lt-Gen Abdulraham Shimbo, Chief of Staff of the Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF) last week said the experts are discussing strategies on capacity building in peace and security for the region.
The six-day meeting, which ends on Thursday, is being attended by participants from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania.
Lt-Gen Shimbo said the meeting, organised by the East African Community secretariat, is in line with implementation of the Community's memorandum of understanding on co-operation and defence.
The Dar meeting is the second in a series that are being held in the region. The first one on disaster management was held in Uganda from August 25-29, while one on peace support operations will be held in Kenya from September 15-19.
Another meeting on managing defence in a democratic society will be held in Rwanda from October 20-24, while another one on conflict prevention, management and resolution will be held in Burundi from September 17-22.
East Africa is vulnerable to terrorism attacks by al Qaeda operatives believed to operate active cells in Somalia.
Just last month, Kenyan security agents alerted Tanzanian authorities over the crossing into Tanzania of Fazul Abdul Mohammed, al-Qaeda's linkman in the region and suspected mastermind of the August 7, 1998 bombing of US embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi. However, Fazul has not been found.
The Dar meeting coincides with the TPDF's 44th anniversary. The force contributed significantly to liberation struggles in Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It has in recent years been participating in peace keeping missions in Sudan and Lebanon.
Most recently, TPDF, alongside forces from Sudan and Senegal participated under the African Union mandate in ousting the self-proclaimed Anjoan president, Mohamed Bacar of the Comoros Island.
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