1 INTRODUCTION

The project team did not visit Senegal, as the request by the OAU Secretariat was considered to be 'inappropriate'. The information which follows is therefore based entirely on the summary of the Senegal Defence Force's peace operations training system provided by the Army Headquarters of the Republic of Senegal. This document was forwarded to the OAU Secretariat via the representative of Senegal to the OAU in Addis Ababa. It is thus atypical of most of the other country reports in terms of structure and completeness, but is nevertheless a valuable contribution to the overall picture of existing peace operations training capabilities.

2 PEACEKEEPING TRAINING

Senegal has no specific/dedicated peacekeeping training centre. A clear understanding of the performances of Senegal's troops within the peacekeeping system requires an understanding of the existing training doctrine of the armed forces. All knowledge and skills that are utilised in peace operations are taught in existing combat training centres. Training occurs at three levels: soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers. This training is given through special modules which are adapted to each category.

A special programme that includes the knowledge and know-how which are necessary for the accomplishment of a mission, exists at each level. These programmes include aspects such as information for soldiers on sexually-transmitted diseases (including AIDS).

Additional modules are provided to officers: lectures; conferences on the UN system and on peace operations; case studies of conciliation forces; and testimonies of officers and their experiences in coalition or peacekeeping forces under the aegis of the UN or the OAU.

For both soldiers and officers, there is a training programme which is conducted twice a year in an international context, and which includes:

refugee management;


the evacuation of hostages or foreign nationals through force or negotiation;


international humanitarian law;


logistics; and


operations to evacuate people in distress.

Officers train at least twice a year in a multinational staff environment, thanks to the biannual training programme with the French and US armies. UN staff procedures therefore pose no problems, and Senegali officers have successfully fulfilled this role in Lebanon, Rwanda, Angola, etc.

Once a contingent has been identified for participation in a particular peace operation, the background training outlined above is supplemented by pre-deployment, mission-specific training. This training includes information on the history, culture, and geography of the area where the mission will take place. This phase is generally carried out by the person in charge of the relevant geographical zone at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

3 IDEAS ON THE FUTURE OF PEACEKEEPING TRAINING

As regards the creation of a training centre, Senegal has a sub-regional approach which was presented through its recommendations at the Dakar seminar on preventive diplomacy and peacekeeping in December 1995.

This approach suggests the creation of a co-ordination structure at a sub-regional level, which would be responsible for the planning and organisation of the training of officers, and for defining an appropriate programme for soldiers, for which each country would take responsibility.

This structure could be assisted by a UN Training Assistance Team to establish pedagogical material and to train sub-regional instructors.