Tanzania has participated in the 13th Joint Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers responsible for Defence, Peace and Security Cooperation and the Council responsible for the Coordination of Foreign Policy under the East African Community (EAC), held on March 30, 2026 in Nairobi.
The meeting brought together EAC partner states to deliberate on key regional matters related to peace, defence cooperation, security and the coordination of foreign policy among member countries.
Tanzania’s delegation at the experts’ meeting was led by Brigadier General Anna Kerengi. The session brought together specialists from ministries responsible for peace, defence, security and foreign affairs across the regional bloc to review progress and discuss areas that require stronger cooperation.
The experts held discussions on a range of cross-cutting issues including regional defence cooperation, peace and security challenges and mechanisms to strengthen coordination of foreign policy positions among EAC member states.
Opening the meeting, the chairperson, Dr Andrew Musiime from Uganda, urged partner states to speed up the implementation of decisions reached at EAC meetings to ensure timely regional development.
He noted that many resolutions adopted within the regional bloc often take longer than expected to be implemented, stressing the need for member states to take deliberate and timely action through their responsible ministries.
The experts’ meeting precedes the permanent secretaries’ meeting scheduled for April 1, followed by the ministers’ meeting on April 2, 2026.
Among key matters to be reviewed during the meetings include the draft strategy to enhance women’s participation in peace and security initiatives within the EAC, a report on the development of an integrated electronic early warning system for the community and proposals to involve civil society organisations, the private sector and religious institutions in the implementation of regional mechanisms for preventing, managing and resolving conflicts.
The United Republic of Tanzania is expected to be represented at the ministerial meeting by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation together with the Minister for Home Affairs.
