FORMULATION OF A REGIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY FOR EAST AFRICA

Abstract

This research examines the formulation of a regional security strategy for East Africa. Its beginning point is that although there have been important efforts to formulate a regional strategy, there is a gap on issues of security strategy. The research argued that the biggest challenge is in the approach of the strategy formulation and contents. The research hence challenges the traditional concept of security and regional security strategy in East Africa and makes a case for the review of the concept and the dynamics of security. The Research examined the relevant documentation, which included reports, and various policy documents, and many others as indicated in the references. The purpose of the documentary review was to collect published data and information on the subject as a basis for further verification. The research also held interviews with various stakeholders, including officials from the East African Community Ministry because it represents and deals directly with the member states in the East African Community, Ministry of Foreign Affairs because it is the key player in the international relations and is involved in policy formulation. The researcher also interviewed officials from the East African Standby Force as a non-state actor representative and an organization that implements some security programmers in the region in collaboration with the member states’ governments. There searcher also interviewed officials from the Regional Center on Small Arms and Light weapons as non-state actor. It is argued that the study of security strategy must incorporate aspects of human security implemented by the mandate of a long-term strategy comprising of military, economic, diplomacy and coordination aspects of a strategy, the lack of which renders regional security efforts fruitless. Eventually the research advances the view that member state of the region may wish to rethink the formulation of the strategy and regional approach of implementation.