Eritrea, South Sudan Could Join East African Standby Force

According to a statement from AU, a meeting of the 10-member EASF council of ministers will be held in December in Sudan, where the approval process could be activated.

‘Both countries must submit an official request to join,’ the text said. ‘We see no reason to reject the application unless a member state opposes.’

Since 2013, South Sudan has enjoyed observer status in the multinational standby force; the current membership of the organization includes Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda.

EASF, with its 5,300 troops, is ready to intervene in case of an emerging crisis in any of the territories it comprises, AU explained.

However, the force only takes sides at the request of the African Union as the last resort, after political dialogue and other mechanisms fail. It has existed since 2004 with the purpose of improving peace, security, and stability in the region, the organization said.