As part of efforts to enhance the capacities of ECOWAS, to perform its mandate in ensuring peace and security in Africa, KAIPTC, in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), successfully conducted two in-mission trainings on the Protection of Civilians (PoC) in Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia, with support from the European Union (EU) and GIZ-EPSAO.
The trainings formed part of ongoing efforts to enhance the operational effectiveness of ECOWAS peace support operations and national security institutions in protecting civilians in complex and fragile environments. The PoC courses brought together peacekeepers deployed under ECOWAS missions and personnel from host-country security agencies. Participants were equipped with practical knowledge and skills on key PoC concepts, relevant international legal and policy frameworks, child protection, gender integration, and operational planning for civilian protection.
In Guinea-Bissau, the training was delivered to 51 participants drawn from the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ESSMGB) and national security agencies. In The Gambia, 46 participants from the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) and Gambian security services took part in the course.
Through interactive sessions, case studies, and scenario-based exercises, participants examined contemporary protection threats and explored coordinated approaches to preventing harm to civilians and responding effectively when threats arise. The trainings aim to strengthen the capacity of ECOWAS peace support operations to mainstream the protection of civilians across mission planning and implementation, while fostering collaboration between mission personnel and host-state security actors.