By Horn Africa News Staff
Mogadishu – Somalia has officially opened the 34th of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Policy Organs, marking the first time the country has hosted this high-level regional security gathering.
The summit, which runs from July 15 to July 19, 2025, brings together senior officials and experts in defense, security, and regional cooperation from across East Africa. This year, Somalia’s Ministry of Defence is chairing the session, assuming the rotating leadership of the EASF.
The focus of the five-day conference is on strategic issues related to regional peace and security, as well as enhanced cooperation among military, police, and civilian components of the standby force. Discussions are centered on tackling the evolving security challenges in the East African region and strengthening joint responses to threats such as terrorism, cross-border crime, and political instability.
Hosting the summit represents a significant diplomatic milestone for Somalia, which continues to rebuild its institutions and reassert its role in regional affairs after decades of conflict.
Analysts see Somalia’s leadership in this year’s session as a sign of growing confidence in the country’s commitment to regional peacebuilding and its desire to contribute more actively to collective security frameworks within the African Union and beyond.
The EASF is one of five regional standby forces under the African Standby Force structure, established to respond to conflicts and emergencies across the continent.
