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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Africa must take the first concrete steps towards creating the capacity to prevent or manage her own conflicts, and to alleviate the human suffering caused by such conflicts. One of the most practical steps which can be taken in this regard, is to enhance African capabilities through the training of personnel for effective participation in peace operations.
A number of African countries have programmes for dedicated training and education on peace operations. However, the content, conduct and scope of the training presented by many of these countries is not generally known; nor has there been any meaningful attempt to build on the capacity of the institutions involved through co-ordination, collaboration, simplification and standardisation.
The aim of this study is to provide the OAU with a comprehensive overview of the training efforts of select countries which have either participated in peace operations, or which appear to be imminent potential participants; and to provide the OAU with recommendations for the enhancement and co-ordination of such efforts. In pursuit of this aim, the survey sample consisted of the following countries: Botswana; Côte d’Ivoire; Egypt; Ghana; Kenya; Nigeria; Senegal; South Africa and Zimbabwe.
In general, the recommendations which emerged from the survey focused on measures to enhance African training capabilities for the conduct of peace operations. The primary recommendation is concerned with addressing the urgent need to develop a common concept, guidelines and doctrine for participation in peace operations by OAU Member States. Other recommendations deal with the provision of guidance and support from the OAU for the ongoing efforts of Member States to train and prepare for participation in peace operations; and the harmonisation of sub-regional and continental efforts to manage conflict and maintain peace and security. Interim measures to assist Member States in their efforts to manage conflict and prepare for peace operations were also suggested, namely: an Intra-African seminar on training for peace operations; and the development of a framework for the harmonisation and standardisation of logistical systems and procedures for supporting African peace operations.
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