KIGALI, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Military forces from the East African region, the United States and the European Union (EU) on Tuesday kicked off a two-week joint military training exercise in Rwanda.

The Shared Accord 2018 exercise from Aug. 14 to 29 in Rwanda Military Academy-Gako in southern Rwanda consists of a command post exercise and a medical readiness exercise.

The exercise is reportedly aimed to improve the capability of Eastern African countries to respond to regional security threats.

"The training exercise is very important because it will contribute to the strengthening of participants' capacities by sharing their knowledge and experience," said Patrick Nyamvumba, Chief of Defence Staff of Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), at the launch of the exercise at the academy.

Rwanda remains committed to giving its contribution towards achieving global peace, he said.

The exercise will include scenarios related to conducting peacekeeping operations under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic.

The military drill will enhance East African troops' preparedness and readiness to respond to threats in security across the region, said Lapthe Flora, assistant adjutant for strategic initiatives for the U.S. Virginia Army National Guard,

The exercise has attracted military personnel from Botswana, Gabon, Germany, Malawi, Morocco, the Netherlands, the Republic of Congo, Senegal, the United States, Zambia and Rwanda as well as the United Nations (UN) and International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).

Shared Accord is a military exercise focusing on Africa's capability and interoperability in support of peace keeping operations of the UN and the African Union.