AU launches police, civilian capacity building training

The African Union (AU) on Wednesday opened Police and Civilian Focused Exercise in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia aiming to build the police and civilian capacities of the African Standby Force (ASF) as a step towards achieving operational readiness by 2015.The exercise to be conducted for two weeks at the Eastern ASF Brigade Headquarters in Ethiopia is also aimed at enhancing the multidimensional character of the ASF and was one of the needs identified by the AMANI Africa Command Post Exercise carried out in October 2010. Under the code-name, Njiwa, a Swahili name for dove which is a global symbol of peace, the exercise is designed to establish, enhance and display the skills and capabilities required by ASF to prevent and intervene in conflict zones. The simulation exercise takes a fictitious African country “Carana” to respond to potential crisis in the country.Ramtane Lamamra, the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security (PSC), told reporters that the AU has received support from different partners, especially from the Government of Canada for the initiative. Speaking at the opening of the exercise at the AU Headquarters, Lamamra, said as a crucial element of the African Peace and Security Architecture, an effective and flexible ASF that has the ability to act quickly is vitally important to addressing adverse conflict situations.The Commissioner said the ability to address adverse situations comes through diligent and often complex preparedness training.“To ensure the ASF attains full operational capacity as planned by 2015, it is imperative that the three functions comprising the multidimensional ASF – the military, police, and civilian components are well prepared for rapid deployment into Peace Support Operations should they be called upon to do so. “The ability to undertake such an important job comes through diligent and often complex preparatory training,” said the Commissioner.He revealed that over 100 participants from every region across Africa would be engaged in a complex, multifaceted, practical police and civilian exercise encompassing a variety of scenarios including mission management, protection of civilians, and rule of law.“Through this specialized exercise, participants will enhance their skills that will contribute significantly to AMANI AFRICA II in the coming year, and most importantly, to the ASF,” he said.