Seychelles is hosting a series of meeting of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF).

A series of four meetings which started with the EASF Day yesterday at the International Conference Centre (ICCS) will take place during next week.

Delegates from five Eastern African countries including Seychelles are taking part in the meetings.

EASF Day, which is held in different member countries, is a unique opportunity to bring together a cross section of people interested in or working for peace in the Eastern Africa region to learn more, share ideas and experiences on common issues using a unique and effective approach – the Standby Force approach.

Established by governments of Eastern Africa in a shared understanding of the urgent need to provide security and peace for the region, the EASF is mandated to address present security threats and conflicts and prevent future conflicts from escalating into large scale military conflicts, civil wars and genocide.

The Seychelles Police Force are now more equipped to deal with such issues as pirates hand-over after a joint training exercise with the Japanese Coast Guard.

The exercise took place earlier this week at the Seychelles International Airport in the presence of dignitaries from Japan and Seychelles.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Japan and Seychelles covering the conditions of transfer of seized property of suspected pirates was signed in 2014. The agreement covers issues such as pirates capture by the Japanese Navy, trial and possible conviction and repatriation to Somalia.

The scenario during this week’s exercise was that of two pirates who had been captured by the Japanese Coast Guard and taken into custody, along with evidence.  The Japanese Coast Guard then handed over the pirates and evidence to the Seychelles Police Force.