Finland Conducts Support Feasibility Studies for EASF's Civilian Component

The UN and AU conflict intervention doctrine underscores that Peace Support Operations (PSOs) should simultaneously address key areas such as politics, rule of law, humanitarian support, protection of civilians, development and other issues alongside security aspects.

Therefore, the civilian dimension of conflict intervention within PSO is crucial to the success of any mission, especially when it comes to post conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction efforts. Capacity building within the Civilian Component ensures that civilians can be able to roll out institutional building after conflict resolution.

It is under these premise that the EASF Director, Dr. Abdillahi Omar Bouh, together with senior members of staff welcomed four officers from the Government of Finland at the Secretariat in Karen, Nairobi, on the morning of Wednesday 4th October 2017. During the meeting, the Director thanked the Government of Finland for the unequivocal support it has accorded EASF's Military Component through the Nordic Advisory and Coordination Staff (NACS) for a couple of years. Such crucial partnerships have enabled the regional peacekeeper attain considerable milestones making it the first standby force to be put on Continental Standby by the African Union from January to June 2017.

Two of the Finnish officers, Mr. Jyrki Ruohomäki and Mr. Ville-Veikko Pitkänen, will seek to establish areas of possible cooperation with the Civilian Component within a period of three days. This feasible partnership would bridge the gap which was left in 2015, when GIZ wrapped up its program for EASF's Civilian Component after supporting it over a number of years.

Photo Gallery: Finnish Technical Evaluation Team Visits EASF