The East African Community (EAC) has moved to strengthen its military cooperation as leaders from across the region pledged joint action to safeguard peace and stability.

This followed the conclusion of the 41st Sectoral Council on Cooperation in Defence Affairs held in Nairobi.

The high-level meeting, according to the X post by KDF posted on Sunday, September 21, 2025, brought together delegates from all eight EAC partner states: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The leaders reviewed the progress of the Defence Experts Working Group and agreed on new measures to tackle the region’s shared security challenges.

Speaking at the closing session, Beatrice Askul Moe, the Cabinet Secretary for EAC, ASALs, and Regional Development, represented Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya. Moe hailed the deliberations as a turning point in the bloc’s security agenda.

She described the week-long talks as a “significant milestone” in responding to the threats facing the region. “This gathering demonstrates our collective responsibility to secure our region. Our unity is our strength,” Hon. Moe told participants, underscoring the need for collective solutions to regional conflicts.

The Nairobi meeting brought together Ministers of Defence, Chiefs of Defence Forces, senior military officers, Liaison Officers, and country delegations. Their discussions centred on harmonising military strategies, enhancing intelligence sharing, and building stronger legal frameworks to guide joint operations across borders.

Kenya played a central role in the sessions, with its delegation led by Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri. He was joined by Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru and Major General Fred Leuria, the Assistant CDF in charge of Operations, Plans, Doctrine, and Training.

Beyond strategy, the leaders reaffirmed their unity as the greatest asset in overcoming regional threats such as terrorism, armed conflict, and cross-border crime. The emphasis was on building trust and ensuring that every partner state contributes to the region’s security architecture.

The resolutions from the 41st council now set the stage for deeper military cooperation under the EAC framework. Kenya has committed to continuing to play its part in advancing the bloc’s vision of peace, stability, and prosperity.

The outcomes of the Nairobi meeting mark a fresh chapter for the East African Community, signalling that regional peace will be protected not by individual states acting alone, but through a united military front.