The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) has on November 20, 2023 opened the African Integrated Peace Operations Course in Entebbe, which aims at enhancing the knowledge and understanding of integrated crisis management approaches as well as collaboration and coordination amongst the different actors.
Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso, the Chief of Staff at the Uganda Rapid Deployment Capability Centre (URDCC), presided over the course opening and stated that the dedication shown to this educational process is proof positive that capacity building is something that Africa, and the Region specifically need.
“This course will equip you with knowledge, skills, and new approaches in managing crises in different contexts and environments, putting emphasis on coordination and collaboration using an integrated approach,” said Byekwaso.
Gen Byekwaso urged the participants to focus on the best means and ways of effectively addressing the root causes of the conflicts and crises prevailing in Eastern Africa.
She explained that if they continue to work together and coordinate their efforts,they will certainly achieve better results in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts, not only in Eastern Africa but beyond Africa.
The event, according to LTC Niclas Von Bonsdorff, Commandant of the Finnish Defence Forces International Centre (FINCENT), is very significant because it emphasizes the role of the EASF in promoting peace in this region of Africa as well as the rest of the continent, as well as its contribution to the global peace process.
The meeting was also attended by the UPDF Information and Operations Officer at the EASF Secretariat, Lt Col Kaale Seiko Adnan, the Principal Human Resource Officer at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Mr. Enyimu William, and UPDF and Uganda Police Officers.
