Eastern Africa Standby Force Reviews 2026 Operations Amid Regional Threats

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Regional security experts meeting in Mogadishu under the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) framework are shaping the organisation’s operational priorities for 2026, with discussions expected to influence peace and security efforts across the Horn of Africa.

The technical committee sessions, now in their second day as part of the EASF’s 35th Ordinary Session, are reviewing the regional security environment and drafting the force’s operation plan for the next financial year.

Delegates are also examining an external audit report, a process aimed at strengthening accountability and efficiency within the regional security body.

A key focus of the talks is an independent assessment of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its spillover effects on neighbouring countries, highlighting growing concern over cross-border instability and its impact on East Africa.

Officials say the outcomes of the technical meetings will feed directly into higher-level decisions when Chiefs of Defence Forces and Defence Ministers from EASF member states convene later in the week to endorse resolutions and provide strategic guidance.

Hosting the session in Mogadishu underscores Somalia’s increasing role in regional security cooperation, as the EASF seeks to reinforce collective defence mechanisms and improve readiness to respond to emerging threats across Eastern Africa.