Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has formally called for the creation of an East African Military Federation, framing it as an essential step to guarantee the region’s security and establish a “centre of gravity for the black race.” The proposal, announced during a press conference at the Mayuge State Lodge, aims to unify the armed forces of all East African Community (EAC) member states.
Museveni argued that a joint military command would rectify the weak defense capabilities of individual African nations, which he illustrated by referencing the foreign invasion of Libya without a concerted African response. “Who can rescue Africa now?” he asked. “The other time Libya was attacked by foreigners, and we were just here looking. Therefore, to guarantee our future, we need to look at the political integration of East Africa.”
However, this visionary proposal is delivered amidst significant regional tensions, notably stemming from Museveni’s own recent comments. On November 8, he explicitly threatened conflict with Kenya, Uganda’s key regional partner, over access to the Indian Ocean.
“That ocean belongs to me. Because it is my ocean. I am entitled to that ocean,” Museveni stated, referring to persistent disputes over trade routes. “In the future, we are going to have wars.”
This stark contradiction—advocating for deep military integration while simultaneously threatening a member state—casts a complex shadow over the initiative. It raises critical questions about the feasibility of a unified security pact in a region where bilateral grievances and national interests remain potent and unresolved.
By James Kisoo
