Canada and Kenya Collaborate to Train African Officers for Peacekeeping Duty

Nairobi , May 5, 2008 - 32 military officers drawn from 13 African countries are in Kenya attending a Tactical Operations Staff course in peacekeeping at the International Mine Action Training centre in Embakasi. The course begins today, Monday, May 5, 2008 and is being conducted by the Canadian Military Training Assistance Programme and the Kenyan and British militaries, in partnership with the International Peace Support Training Centre-Kenya.

The training is intended to assist in addressing the crisis in Sudan ’s Dafur region and other African nations experiencing conflict. It aims to provide junior and field officers - such as Majors and Captains - with skills and knowledge on Command Post Operations to enable them to function in global peace support operations.

“The Tactical Operations Staff Course is part of a comprehensive response to the crisis in the Dafur Region in Sudan and efforts to restore peace in African regions experiencing conflict, through peacekeeping training for the African Union. The training will help enable African countries to resolve conflicts without relying on international forces”, said Major Mike Calnan, one of the course architects from the Canadian Department of Defence. “ The course will prepare military officers with the basic skills necessary to effectively participate in peacekeeping headquarters operations in conflict areas”, added Major Calnan.

The students represent a diverse cross section of African Nations including: Burundi , Egypt , Ghana , Kenya , Libya , Mali , Namibia , Nigeria , Rwanda , Senegal , Tanzania , Uganda , Zambia . There will also be troops from the East African Standby Brigade (EASBRIG).

The intense ten-day course is both comprehensive and grounded in real-world scenarios, designed to assist students in implementing their peace support skills in Sudan or in potential missions across Africa . Formal instruction will be followed by a three day practical exercise, code named BLUE BONNET, which will test the officers’ new skills.

Students will also participate in media training through simulated press conferences, interviews and briefings for military command.

The Military Training Assistance Programme is a key instrument of Canada 's foreign policy and defence diplomacy. It directly contributes to the mission of the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) by promoting Canadian interests and values abroad and contributing to international peace and security.

The Tactical Operations Staff Course starts today, May 5 and will end on May 23, 2008 .

-ENDS-

Interested journalists are invited to cover the exercise on May 21 and the graduation ceremony at 1130 a.m. on May 23).For more information or interviews please contact: Major Mike Calnan, Canadian Department of Defence on 0735 33 75 87 or David Mwagiru, Public Affairs, Canadian High Commission, Kenya on Tel: 254-2 366 3000 or 0735 33 75 88  or e-mail: david.mwagiru@international.gc.ca