On Thursday, September 5, senior security officials from Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda convened in Kigali for a two-day Defense Cluster meeting under the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) framework. This meeting aimed to review and enhance the progress of their collaborative defense initiatives and evaluate the overall status of inter-country cooperation.
The primary focus of the discussions was the tripartite Defense Pact, which sets out a framework for cooperation in key areas such as conflict prevention, counter-terrorism, and genocide prevention. In addition, the pact addresses critical cross-border issues, including piracy, the control of illegal small arms, disaster response, and the sharing of intelligence on both current and emerging threats.
Brig Gen Célestin Kanyamahanga, representing Rwanda’s Minister of Defence, underscored the importance of the meeting as a platform for reflecting on past challenges and achievements. He encouraged active dialogue among participants to address security concerns and improve collaborative efforts.
The officials also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties in several key areas: military training, joint exercises, operational coordination, and intelligence sharing. This meeting highlighted the ongoing importance of the Northern Corridor Integration Projects framework as a crucial mechanism for enhancing regional security through continuous cooperation and joint defense strategies.