Structure of Eastern African Standby Force in Maintaining Peace and Security in Kenya and Somalia

Abstract

Structural issues marred intrastate conflicts in the early nineties thus challenging regional security. This prompted the need for a collective regional response. Further, this explains the formation of a number of regional security mechanisms such as EASF with a mandate to maintain peace and security in the Eastern Africa region. Despite over a decade of its existence, the EASF efforts to tackle the seemingly intractable peace and security dilemmas in the region and especially in Kenya and Somalia have remained elusive and insignificant, making it more of a bystander. This study sought to address this gap. Specifically, the study examined the structure of Eastern African Standby Force. The study was underpinned by regional Security Complex theory.