UN TO TRAIN AFRICAN UNION PEACEKEEPING SUPPORT STAFF

UN TO TRAIN AFRICAN UNION PEACEKEEPING SUPPORT STAFF New York, Sep 5 2008 6:10PM The United Nations peacekeeping arm launched a training programme this week for senior officials of the African Union (AU), aimed at improving the planning, deployment and management of its peacekeeping support missions.

This is the third in a series of training courses designed specifically for senior AU civilian, military and police leaders who might be appointed to positions at the level of head or deputy head of mission, force or deputy force commander or police commissioner in missions.

Some 25 AU officials from 14 countries will participate in the 12-day training programme in Botswana, planned in partnership between the UN, the AU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Participants of the programme will be given a solid overview of issues involved in the peacekeeping missions, especially in relation to the African context.

The topics of study include the overall political, economic and social situation in which peacekeeping takes place using case studies such as peacekeeping in Darfur, delivered by the Force Commander of the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (<"http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/">UNAMID), General Martin Luther Agwai.

The Government of Denmark is providing funding for the programme, run by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), with support also coming from the Government of Botswana.

The previous courses in this series were held in Kenya, in eastern Africa, and Nigeria in the west, while upcoming training organised by DPKO's AU Peacekeeping Support Team will take place in central and northern Africa.
2008-09-05 00:00:00.000

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