(Addis Ababa, 10th June, 2025) The Acting Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Air Commodore David Anetey Akrong who is chairing the 12th annual edition of the African Security Symposium (ASEC 2025) commencing today in Addis Ababa, paid a courtesy call on the African Union (AU) Commissioner for the Department of Political Affairs Peace and Security (DPAPS), His Excellency, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye at the AU Headquarters yesterday. The Acting Commandant was accompanied by Dr John Pokoo, Head of Conflict Management Programme in the Department of Research.
Underway from 10-12 June 2025 at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, ASEC brings together public and private security sector actors from across Africa and beyond, to explore actionable partnerships. Commissioner Bankole Adoeye is expected to deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony.
Air Commodore Akrong used the opportunity of ASEC 2025 to engage the Commissioner on the longstanding relations between KAIPTC and the AU especially, the DPAPS whose mandate aligns with that of the KAIPTC and which is underpinned by a joint memorandum of understanding since 2017.
Among other issues discussed, Air Commodore Akrong invited the Commissioner to the 2025 edition of the Challenges Forum – a global high-level platform that convenes key actors to deliberate on different dimensions and approaches to peace operations -, being hosted at the KAIPTC from 14-16 October 2025.
In his remarks, Ambassador Adeoye acknowledged the longstanding collaboration between DPAPS and KAIPTC, and emphasised the AU ‘s commitment to strengthening partnerships with the KAIPTC and other training Centres. He highlighted the role of women and youth in election observation and mentioned a planned training session on “women and youth in election observation” organised by the DPAPS’ Election and Democracy Assistance Unit working in collaboration with the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) and KAIPTC. The training will take place at the KAIPTC from 21-25 July 2025 for 30 participants from across the continent.
Highlighting the importance that the AU attaches to women and youth in elections, Commissioner Adeoye is set to lead the AU delegation to Accra to deliver the training which is part of his strategic vision to ensure that women and youth dominate the election observation activities of the AU across Africa. He also indicated that the AU is committed to organize the subsequent training on women and youth in election observation at the KAIPTC.
Furthermore, Ambassador Adoeye emphasised the important role of technology in peace and security for which reason the AU Advisory Council has ensured that a continental expert group on technology is established to provide a comprehensive perspective to the utility of technology to peace and security on the continent and also, guide subsequent action. He, therefore, urged the KAIPTC to devote further attention to artificial intelligence (AI) and also, cyber security.
Air Commodore Akrong echoed the Commissioner’s remarks on the growing importance of the role of the youth in decision-making, stressing on the forward-looking elevation of matters of women and youth in peace and security from a project-level activity to a department-level focus at the KAIPTC. He also updated the Commissioner on its new priority areas which positions security and technology at the forefront of the operations of the KAIPTC.
The Acting Commandant assured the Commissioner of the KAIPTC’s continued support to the work of DPAPS through participation in a number of DPAPS policy interventions including the African Network of Think Tanks for Peace (NETT4Peace); the Expert group supporting the High Representative on the Silencing the Guns Initiative in Africa; and The task force designing the African Disarmament Fellowship Programme to which the KAIPTC is represented by Dr John Pokoo.
