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In a two-day gathering at Nairobi Safari Club, Lilian Towers, the Chiefs of Police from the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) convened for their 7th EAPCCO Meeting on November 6, 2023. The high-level meeting aims on addressing critical issues related to transnational organized crimes, Ballistics, Standard Operating Procedures, small and light weapons, and legal frameworks for regional law enforcement.
During the opening session, the Inspector General of National Police Service, who also holds the position of President of the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL), warmly welcomed the Police Chiefs to Kenya. He expressed optimism that the outcomes of the EAPCCO meeting would significantly bolster continental law enforcement efforts, particularly in responding to transnational organized crimes.
EAPCCO is currently under the leadership of Major General Frederic Budomo, the Inspector General of the Burundi Police Force. Notable attendees at the meeting include Lieutenant General Thomas Jal Thomas, the Inspector General of the South Sudan Police Force, who serves as the Rapporteur of the meeting, and Honorable Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, the Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community. Additionally, the meeting boasts the participation of representatives from the police agencies of Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the INTERPOL Regional Bureau for East Africa.
The collaborative effort of Eastern African nations underscores their commitment to addressing transnational criminal activities and fostering cooperation in maintaining peace and security across the region. The discussions and agreements made during the much awaited 7th EAPCCO Meeting is expected to have a positive and lasting impact on law enforcement efforts in Eastern Africa and beyond.
