Conference in Ottawa Gathers African Union Officials to Discuss Police and Civilian Training Exercise that Helps Prepare for Crises Situations in Africa
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada – The next steps to planning for an African Union training exercise begins in Ottawa this week between the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre and top officials from the African Union Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) and key partners. The exercise will focus on enhancing the skills of the police and civilian units within the AU’s African Standby Force (ASF) to better prepare for mandated peace operations and crises situations in their region.
The scenario-based activity to be conducted in Ethiopia in 2012 will simulate the planning, mandating and execution of a peace support operation for the police and civilian components, but also include a military perspective to ensure a comprehensive approach.
“The participants of the activity will use a fictitious environment that captures real-life regional issues in Africa,” Scott Carnie, Vice-President of Programs and Business Development, Pearson Peacekeeping Centre. “This type of scenario-based training allows the audience to have a more in-depth experience where they play out challenges that they may face in today and tomorrow’s peace operations.”
Issues to be covered in the activity include: Mission Management Issues; Protection of Civilians; Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, and Sexual Exploitation amongst others.
The AU requested the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre’s support to design, develop and deliver the exercise when a similar continental-level activity conducted in 2010 revealed training gaps in the police and civilian units of its African Standby Force.
“The African Standby Force was created to allow a quick response to peace and stability situations in Africa,” says Mr. Sivuyile Bam, Head of the Peace Support Division of the African Union. “This exercise is a necessary step to ensure the all components of the Force is fully operational and has the capability of undertaking a range of activities in terms of peace operations.”
The African Union Police and Civilian-focused Exercise will also serve as preparation towards a second continental-level exercise called AMANI AFRICA II that will further test the operationalization of the ASF.
The exercise is funded by the Government of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) through the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre’s African Police for Peace project.
The Canadian-based Pearson Peacekeeping Centre continues delivering its unique programs in capacity building, training and peacekeeping exercises/simulations to contribute to effective international peace and security.
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