A ten-day “Peace Support Operations (PSO) Foundation Course” opened September 9 at the Rwanda Peace Academy Training facility in Musanze district.
The course that will end on 20th September 2013 will be attended by a total of 23 civilian personnel from 8 Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) member states: the Republic of Burundi, the Republic of Djibouti, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of Seychelles, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of Sudan, and the Republic of Uganda.
The aim of the course is to introduce civilian participants to the methods and concepts of contemporary Peace Support Operations, in preparation for peace support missions in the region and on the African continent.
The course will enhance the awareness of the role of the civilian dimension in peace support operations and consequently enhance regional capacity in conducting peace support operations.
The training of civilian personnel is in line with the mission of the Rwanda Peace Academy which is to conduct research, develop and deliver internationally recognized professional training courses and educational programmes in order to equip the military, police and civilian personnel with the competences and knowledge required to meet Africa’s present and future complex peace and security challenges.
The course is a result of collaborative efforts between the Rwanda Peace Academy, the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) and in particular its Civilian Component, and the German International Cooperation (GIZ). The Rwanda Peace Academy conducted a similar course in October 2012.
The opening ceremony was presided over by the Head of Peace Support Operations at the Rwanda Defence Forces Headquartes, Brig Gen Kalimba.
Japan’s Ambassador to Rwanda, His Excellency Mr. Kazuya Ogawa was among the officials who attended the ceremony. He expressed satisfaction with the way the training facility was being used in promotion of regional peace and security.
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