16th ASF Training Implementation Workshop Held in Nairobi Kenya, Focuses on Technology in Peace Support Operations

The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) hosted the 16th Annual African Standby Force (ASF) Training Implementation Workshop (TIW) from October 28 to November 1, 2024. The event, held in Nairobi, brought together key stakeholders from across the continent and beyond to discuss the theme “Leveraging Technology in Enhancing the Effectiveness of Peace Support Operations (PSO) Training."

Organized by the African Union's Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD), the workshop gathered participants from the African Union (AU), Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), Training Centres of Excellence (TCEs), Training Institutions (TIs), the AU Military Staff Committee (MSC), ongoing AU missions, and strategic partners supporting ASF training efforts.

In his opening remarks, Brigadier (Rtd) Paul Kahuria Njema, Director of the EASF Secretariat, underscored the importance of the workshop in shaping the future of African peace and security efforts. "We are relying heavily on your expertise and experience to ensure that this meeting meets the expectations of the African Union and RECs/RMs. You have the opportunity to guide us in rebuilding a strong Organization that is equal to today's security and humanitarian challenges," he said, adding that the workshop could help propose reforms necessary for the ASF to take its rightful place in the African Peace and Security Architecture.

The event also featured addresses from General Cheick Dembele, Head of PSOD, and Lieutenant Colonel Chris Smyth, British Peace Support Training – Africa (BPST-A) Liaison Officer to the AU. Both emphasized the critical role of collaboration and technology in modernizing peace support operations across the continent.

The TIW's primary goal was to foster networking and collaboration among stakeholders to share best practices and strategies for integrating advanced technologies into PSO training. The workshop also aimed to review the progress of the ASF Training Directives for 2024-2026, assess recommendations made at the 15th ASF TIW held in Cairo, Egypt in 2023, and address challenges in the implementation of these directives.

Participants had the opportunity to visit key institutions, including the EASF Headquarters in Nairobi, where the Secretariat and the Planning Element (PLANELM) are based, as well as the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC), one of the region's leading TCEs.

The outcomes and recommendations from the 16th ASF TIW will be compiled into a report and submitted to the AU’s Specialized Technical Committee on Defence, Safety, and Security (STCDSS) for review and adoption.