ECOWAS Command Post Exercise

Exercise Jigui 3
ECOWAS Standby Force
Main Force Validation

Venue: KAIPTC
Date: 19 – 25 Nov, 2011

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Address by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace & Security (CPAPS)

Dear Participants,

I wish to, on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, warmly welcome you to this important Command Post Exercise (CPX) tagged JIGUI III, at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Accra, Ghana, one of the ECOWAS Training Centres of Excellence.

Training, amongst other resources, is the main tool to improve operational readiness and responsiveness.  The ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) training is thus to prepare earmarked ECOWAS regional military, police and civilian components to conduct Peace Support Operation (PSO) in a multidimensional and multinational environment. Therefore, in line with the ESF Roadmap III, the CPX is planned to take place at KAIPTC from 19 – 25 November, 2011.

“JIGUI” means “HOPE” in Bambara language which is widely spoken in Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone and other ECOWAS Countries.

The purpose of the exercise is to evaluate the ESF Main Force (MF) which is an important milestone in the operationalisation of the ESF. The JIGUI III will serve as part of the capacity building of the ESF MF in consonance with the African Standby Force (ASF) Roadmap III towards its states by 2015.

It is our hope therefore, that in the development and sustainment of the ESF as a veritable component of the ECOWAS peace and security architecture, the good people of ECOWAS, the African Continent and the world at large will encourage and support our effort towards engendering a peaceful and egalitarian region.

Finally, I wish all our participants and invited observers to this exercise, a resounding success in the JIGUI III and to enjoy the warm hospitality of the good people of Accra in the spirit of AKWAABA. I thank you and my very best wishes...more

Major Gen. Mahamane Touré,
Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security