PHOTOS: Integrated peace operations course concludes in Kigali

Thirty-four military, police, and civilian personnel from nine Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) member states successfully completed the African Integrated Peace Operations Course in Kigali from May 7 to May 12. ALSO READ: African integrated peace operations course commences in Kigali The participating member states included Burundi, the Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, and Uganda. The course aimed to enhance knowledge and understanding of integrated crisis management approaches while fostering collaboration and coordination among the military, police, and civilian components. Presiding over the official closing ceremony, Col (Rtd) Jill Rutaremara, Director of the Rwanda Peace Academy, emphasized the importance of comprehensive and holistic protection of civilians. He highlighted the need to broaden the concept of protection beyond physical harm to include other forms of violence, such as Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). Col Rutaremara stressed the significance of peacebuilding programs like Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) and Security Sector Reform (SSR) in achieving sustainable peace and security. He expressed confidence that the knowledge and skills acquired during the course would contribute to more effective implementation of UN and AU mandates during peace missions. ALSO READ: Meet on support relationships in armed conflict ends Mohamed Haji, a civilian and advisor in the Ministry of Defence in Somalia, expressed his appreciation for Rwanda and the captivating city of Kigali. He appreciated the new knowledge gained during the course, which he believes could be applied in their respective countries and in conflict-affected regions. Haji emphasized the importance of collaboration among the military, police, and civilian components in preventing and responding to crises, underscoring the need to work together proactively before crises arise and reactively during crisis situations. Beatrice Mironko, a lecturer at the University of Rwanda, lauded the decision to integrate all three components - military, police, and civilian - in the course. She emphasized that conflicts can only be resolved when all actors work together. Mironko highlighted the interactive nature of the course, which shed light on the collaborative efforts between police and the military during crises. She expressed readiness to apply the knowledge gained, particularly in supporting the police in crisis management. ALSO READ: Protection of civilians emphasised as regional security course opens The one-week course was organized through a partnership between the Finnish Defence Forces International Centre (FINCENT), the Ministry of Defence through the Rwanda Peace Academy (RPA), and the EASF Secretariat. Its objective was to strengthen crisis management capabilities and promote synergy among the participating components. The successful completion of the course signifies an important step towards enhancing peace operations in the Eastern Africa region. Link to photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thenewtimes/albums/72177720308227229/with/52892091593/

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PHOTOS: Integrated peace operations course concludes in Kigali