(DAR ES SALAAM) – The EAC chiefs of police have convened in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the 8th annual meeting aimed at developing a cohesive plan to combat cross-border crimes and enhance collaborative policing efforts across the region. This meeting, hosted at the Four Points by Sheraton, unites Criminal Investigation Department (CID) heads, as well as officials from immigration, prisons, and motor vehicle registries of the EAC nations.
Representing Uganda at the conference is Chelimo Beata, Deputy Director of CID, who is contributing to discussions focused on key mutual interests around cross-border criminal activities. Uganda’s CID shared on social media platform X that these sessions will examine strategies to enhance coordination between partner states to counter the challenges of cross-border crime effectively.
The EAC’s commitment to security cooperation was emphasized earlier this year. On January 26, EAC Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, Social, and Political Sectors, Andrea Malueth, urged member states to deepen collaboration against terrorism and transnational organized crime. Malueth noted that these efforts would also support economic integration, allowing free movement of goods, services, and labor across borders in line with Article 124 of the EAC’s founding treaty.
The EAC secretariat reiterated the importance of regional cooperation in tackling various forms of cross-border crime, including organized violence, financial crime, human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, piracy, and cybercrime. According to Malueth, “It is critical for Partner States to work together to ensure that the people gain the fruits of integration, such as improved livelihoods.”
Earlier in the year, Malueth shared these comments during a conference on immigration and border governance held in Bujumbura, Burundi. This meeting examined evolving migration patterns and their impact on the region, emphasizing the role of integrated migration management in regional development.
| Event | Location | Key Participants | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAC Police Chiefs Meeting | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | CID, Immigration, Prisons, and Motor Vehicle Registrars | Combatting cross-border crime coordination |
| Immigration & Border Governance Conference | Bujumbura, Burundi | Regional leaders, Andrea Malueth (EAC Deputy Secretary) | Integrated migration management |
