The Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) and US Special Operations Command Africa co-hosted the recent East Africa Special Operations Conference in Zanzibar, the US Embassy in Tanzania announced in a press release Monday (February 11th).

Representatives from Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda participated in the conference, under the theme "Capable Special Operations Forces for the Challenges of Tomorrow".

The use of special operations forces to enhance the capability to protect civilians is a growing trend across East Africa, according to the press release. The conference focused on the countries' varied experiences using and developing special operations forces, and praised the ongoing African Union Mission in Somalia as an example of success in this area.

"Special operations forces all over the world are anticipated to have rapidly deployable capabilities to austere environments with highly specialised personnel able to adapt faster than the enemy in all types of operations," said TPDF Major General Salum Mustafa Kijuu. "This conference will play a crucial role in fostering our regional special operations forces capabilities as the way to find solutions to address our own problems and challenges."