East African Community Peace Facility

Posted in Nairobi process

Pursuant to Chapter 23 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community and the EAC Protocol on Peace and Security, Article 4 (Relating to Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution) and Article 8 (relating to Peace Support Operations), the 22^nd Ordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State held on 22^nd July, 2022 directed among others that, a dedicated Fund be established to support implementation EAC-led Nairobi Process.

The EAC Council of Ministers at its 27^th Ordinary Meeting and vide Decision EAC/CM 27/Decision 39, adopted the recommendation of the 5^th Joint Meeting of the Sectoral Councils on Cooperation in Defence, Interstate Security and Foreign Policy Coordination on establishment of dedicated Fund known as the EAC Peace Facility to support implementation of peace and security interventions.

The above Council’s decision formed the basis for the operationalization of the EAC Peace Facility to support the Nairobi Process.

Main objective of the Peace Facility

In accordance with Section VII of the Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution Mechanism, the EAC Peace Facility is intended to facilitate EAC Peace and Security agenda by providing the resources necessary to swiftly respond to or address peace and security challenges.

Other objectives in the context of the Nairobi Process are:

1. Support to the operations of the Facilitator’s Office as it undertakes outreach that mobilizes both the political and financial support for the process;
   
   
2. Support towards continuous engagements between the Facilitator and Members of the Summit;
   
   
3. Support to the regular operational activities of the dedicated Secretariat which will draw on the support that will be provided by a Technical Officer provided by each Partner State to advise the Facilitator;
   
   
4. Support the ongoing Political process in Eastern DRC being undertaken through the Inter Congolese dialogue;
   
   
5. Support to regular Defence sector coordination and consultation activities on the progress in the implementation of the military track of the Nairobi Process: and
   
   
6. Support to implementation of measures intended to suppress hate speech across all forms of media in Eastern DRC.

Since August 2022, Partner States have made voluntary contributions to the kitty to sustain both the Political and Military tracks. Other contributions have been received from Senegal (as chair of the AU), Angola (as chair of ICGLR) and the Africa Union in the Spirit of Subsidiarity.