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Regional rapid response force formed to address piracy

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-25 16:54

NAIROBI -- East African countries have formed a 7,000-strong standby brigade to respond to conflicts and other crises including piracy within the region.

Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang'ula said the rapid response force will protect critical trade routes in the Indian Ocean to curb increased cases of piracy once it becomes fully operational.

"What we are trying to do now is create a situation where Africa will not be going to knock on every door all over the world asking for support. Indeed we can, because a country like Kenya has been sending peace keeping troops all over the world," he said.

The force will be headed by the chairperson of the East Africa Chiefs of Defense and chief of Defense Forces, Union of Comoros, Brig-Gen. Salimou Amiri and director of East Africa Standby Brigade (EASBRIG) Simon Mulongo.

It will have a multinational headquarters manned by 65 personnel, a headquarters and signal support unit of 120 officers, multinational forces from all member states and civilian and police personnel.