(Accra, Ghana, 10th February, 2025) Despite numerous interventions by regional bodies to address conflicts in the sub-region, instability persists across Africa. In response to these challenges, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), with support from the Government of France, has launched a two-week Joint Campaign Planning Course.
This training aims to enhance the military component of regional peacekeeping operations by equipping participants with comprehensive operational-level tools and principles necessary for effective conflict management.
Air Commodore David Akrong, Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC, emphasized that as one of three Research Centres of Excellence in the ECOWAS region, KAIPTC has a crucial obligation to build sustainable capacities within Africa’s and ECOWAS’s peace and security architecture. He noted the increasing complexity of conflicts, which necessitates more extensive training aligned with international peacekeeping standards.
“It is essential for our military personnel to develop the skills needed to meet these challenges while maintaining a strong advocacy for peacebuilding,” he stated.
Air Commodore Akrong highlighted the invaluable support from the French Government, particularly for initiatives like this course. He acknowledged France’s consistent commitment to addressing critical security gaps in African peacekeeping.
H.E. Jules-Armand Aniambossou, the French Ambassador to Ghana, underscored the importance of equipping security leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively plan and execute operations through strategic thinking, particularly within the context of future peacekeeping engagements.
He emphasized that peacekeepers now face a wide range of threats from adversaries who are increasingly creative, daring, technologically advanced, and aggressively offensive. This, he said, underscores the need for thorough operational preparation and high-level collaboration to effectively address these evolving challenges.
A total of 19 participants—18 men and 1 woman—from countries including Chad, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Benin, Ghana, Burundi, Lesotho, DR Congo, Cameroon, Mauritania, Togo, and Guinea Conakry will benefit from this vital training program.
