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Burundi pulls out of EAC military games

Xinhua, August 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

Burundi has pulled out from participating in the East African Community (EAC) military games and cultural shows to be hosted in Rwanda.

The military games and cultural events bring together soldiers from EAC member states to compete in a wide range sporting events and cultural shows.

Rwanda hosts the 10th edition of the event from Aug. 8 to 18 at Amahoro National Stadium, Nyamirambo and Kicukiro Stadiums, all in Capital Kigali.

Addressing a news conference on Saturday evening, Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba, Chief of Defense Staff of Rwanda Defense Force (RDF), said that Burundi was aware of the the event but is missing on list.

"Burundian military participating delegation requested more time to prepare for the event, but other participating countries examined their requests and found it was too late," he added.

Nyamvumba explained that when member country is not ready for the military games, it submits its request to other partner countries for review, and Burundi's request was too late.

The occasion, dubbed "One people One Destiny through EAC Military Games and Cultural Event 2016", will bring together more than 500 personnel from EAC Partner States Defence Forces to participate in various sporting games such as football, handball, netball, basketball, cross country and cultural shows.

According to organizers of the event, the primary object of the EAC military games is to strengthen confidence building, friendship and cooperation among partner countries.

It also enables individual soldiers to demonstrate their immense talents and diverse rich cultures of the EAC Partner States.

Military participating teams from Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda are already in Rwanda ahead of the event which starts Monday.

Rwanda is hosting the event for the second time after the one in 2009.

Members of the EAC countries include Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan. Endi