KAIPTC signs MoU with UNOAU; engages African Union Commission, ECOWAS Commission and Key Partners during stakeholder engagement mission to Addis Ababa and Abuja

With funding support from the Government of Norway, Maj Gen Richard Addo Gyane, accompanied by a 6-member delegation, paid a working visit to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to engage with the Centre’s key partners. As part of the working visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the KAIPTC and the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU).

The purpose of the MOU is to provide a framework for collaboration between the UNOAU and the KAIPTC to support the African Union, its Regional and Economic Communities, Regional Mechanisms and Member States. The MOU will also strengthen the UN-AU-KAIPTC partnership in the areas of contributing to addressing peace and security on the African continent.

H.E. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) in a photograph with Maj Gen Richard Addo Gyane, Commandant, KAIPTC

The delegation whilst in Addis Ababa, paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner, Political Affairs Peace and Security (CPAPS) to discuss emerging security threats in Africa and the priority areas of his office, which would feed into  KAIPTC’’s next strategy.

Similar meetings were held within the African Union Commission with the offices of the Ag Head of PSOD Mr. Zinurine Alghali, the Special Envoy on Women Peace and Security, H.E Bineta Diop and Mrs. Angela Martins, the Ag Director Social Development, Culture and Sport.

The delegation also used the opportunity to re-engage with other key partners of the Centre including the Embassy of Sweden, Embassy of Ghana, the Office of the Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa and Institute of Peace and Security Studies (IPSS).

At the ECOWAS Commission, the Commandant and his delegation held meetings with  H.E. Mrs. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission and H.E. Ambassador Dr. Abdel Musah – Fatau, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, (CPAPS).

The bilateral engagement discussed issues arising from the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between ECOWAS and its Training Centre’s of Excellence (TCE’s); a review of the Training Needs Assessment (TNA) to ascertain the training needs of ECOWAS, relevant research areas on mediation, violent extremism and joint efforts to prevent the spillover of terrorism from the Sahel.

Dr. Abdel Musah-Fatau emphasized the need to strengthen border security in Member countries to address transnational organised crime and violent extremism. Further discussions centered on the strategic role of the Training Centre’s of Excellence (TCEs) in promoting peace and security and a mutual pledge of partnership to address issues in the sub-region.

KAIPTC delegation in group photograph with Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner Political Affairs Peace and Security (CPAPS) and his staff

Other partners engaged with within the period  include the Ambassadors of the Embassy of Austria, Finland, Sweden and Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria. The delegation also held meetings with the EU Delegation in Abuja.

Collectively, the focal areas of discussion were on  possible areas of collaborations  on women, youth, peace and security, the nexus between the gendered impact of climate change in the sub-region and peace and security, and strengthening legal frameworks to promote  human rights in the context of women peace and security. The Partners acknowledged the Centre’s central role and contributions to strengthening the regional peace and security architecture.