Homegrown solutions key for peace in Africa

Joseph Madzimure and Takudzwa MangrozahAfrica must move towards finding homegrown solutions to peace support operations for the achievement of lasting peace and security, in alignment with the African Union’s Agenda of Silencing the Guns by 2063.Officially opening the 17th African Standby Force Annual Training Implementation Workshop in Harare yesterday, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said the workshop has a role in facilitating an in-depth analysis of the continent’s progress and the steps needed to enhance African peace support operations in accordance with the African Union’s directives for 2024 to 2026.“The African Standby Force (ASF) Training Implementation Workshop serves as a vital platform for assessing progress in implementing the ASF Training Directives for the period 2024 to 2026,” she said.“We are delighted to co-host this important occasion, which brings together esteemed representatives from the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities, Peacekeeping Training Centres of Excellence and various partner institutions.”The workshop is being held under the theme, “Enhancing efficiency in mandate implementation: Reassessing capacity needs assessments”.Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the theme captures the continent’s shared commitment, not only to address the challenges it confronts, but also to seize the opportunities for growth and collaboration in mandate implementation.“As we deliberate, let us remain aware that lasting peace is born out of collaborative and home-grown peacekeeping interventions.“It is also an opportunity for us to share best practices and engage in enlightening discussions that will strengthen our collective efforts in peace-support operations in the region,” she said.The workshop aims to address several key objectives, including assessing progress and challenges.This will allow the delegates to take stock of where they are, identifying and analysing obstacles that may hinder efforts.Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri emphasised the need to examine training needs assessments to ensure that training is aligned with the requirements of peace support operations.Noting the evolving nature of conflicts in the region – both traditional and non-traditional – she highlighted their increasing complexity, driven by local peculiarities and wider regional and international dynamics.“Peacekeepers continue to face personal risks as they are increasingly targeted by warring parties. “Resultantly, an increasing number of peacekeepers are being injured or killed in the line of duty,” she stated.The minister underscored that homegrown interventions are crucial for sustainable peace support operations in Africa.She also stressed the need to understand the global and local operating environment and its connection to peace support operations.“In this vein, the adoption of early warning systems is essential for timely interventions in potential conflict zones,” she noted.“We also need to enhance internal resource mobilisation to minimise reliance on external support. It is critical, during the proceedings, to have a holistic approach and understanding of the existing defense and security environment in Africa,” she added.Following prolonged conflicts in some parts of the continent, it is estimated that Africa has around 45,7 million refugees and internally displaced persons.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the dramatic advancements in information and communication technologies have also led to significant security challenges, including the increased production and dissemination of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.“We are increasingly witnessing a surge in cyber-crimes that have enormous negative impacts. It is estimated that the financial impact of cyber-crimes in Africa exceeds US$4 billion, representing approximately 10 percent of the region’s GDP,” she said.The five-day training workshop is attended by the head of the peace support operations division of the African union Commission General Cheick Dembele, the Chief of Staff of the SADC Planning Element Brigadier General Chere Makhetha, representatives from regional economic communities/regional mechanisms planning elements, representatives from Training Centers of Excellence and Training Institutions, representatives of the AU Peace Support Operations, strategic partners, general officers, and senior officers.Leave a ReplyCancel reply Joseph Madzimure and Takudzwa MangrozahAfrica must move towards finding homegrown solutions to peace support operations for the achievement of lasting peace and security, in alignment with the African Union’s Agenda of Silencing the Guns by 2063.Officially opening the 17th African Standby Force Annual Training Implementation Workshop in Harare yesterday, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said the workshop has a role in facilitating an in-depth analysis of the continent’s progress and the steps needed to enhance African peace support operations in accordance with the African Union’s directives for 2024 to 2026.“The African Standby Force (ASF) Training Implementation Workshop serves as a vital platform for assessing progress in implementing the ASF Training Directives for the period 2024 to 2026,” she said.“We are delighted to co-host this important occasion, which brings together esteemed representatives from the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities, Peacekeeping Training Centres of Excellence and various partner institutions.”The workshop is being held under the theme, “Enhancing efficiency in mandate implementation: Reassessing capacity needs assessments”.Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the theme captures the continent’s shared commitment, not only to address the challenges it confronts, but also to seize the opportunities for growth and collaboration in mandate implementation.“As we deliberate, let us remain aware that lasting peace is born out of collaborative and home-grown peacekeeping interventions.“It is also an opportunity for us to share best practices and engage in enlightening discussions that will strengthen our collective efforts in peace-support operations in the region,” she said.The workshop aims to address several key objectives, including assessing progress and challenges.This will allow the delegates to take stock of where they are, identifying and analysing obstacles that may hinder efforts.Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri emphasised the need to examine training needs assessments to ensure that training is aligned with the requirements of peace support operations.Noting the evolving nature of conflicts in the region – both traditional and non-traditional – she highlighted their increasing complexity, driven by local peculiarities and wider regional and international dynamics.“Peacekeepers continue to face personal risks as they are increasingly targeted by warring parties. It is estimated that the financial impact of cyber-crimes in Africa exceeds US$4 billion, representing approximately 10 percent of the region’s GDP,” she said.The five-day training workshop is attended by the head of the peace support operations division of the African union Commission General Cheick Dembele, the Chief of Staff of the SADC Planning Element Brigadier General Chere Makhetha, representatives from regional economic communities/regional mechanisms planning elements, representatives from Training Centers of Excellence and Training Institutions, representatives of the AU Peace Support Operations, strategic partners, general officers, and senior officers.

Africa must move towards finding homegrown solutions to peace support operations for the achievement of lasting peace and security, in alignment with the African Union’s Agenda of Silencing the Guns by 2063. Officially opening the 17th African Standby Force Annual Training Implementation Workshop in Harare yesterday, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said the workshop has a role in facilitating an in-depth analysis of the continent’s progress and the steps needed to enhance African peace support operations in accordance with the African Union’s directives for 2024 to 2026.“The African Standby Force (ASF) Training Implementation Workshop serves as a vital platform for assessing progress in implementing the ASF Training Directives for the period 2024 to 2026,” she said. “We are delighted to co-host this important occasion, which brings together esteemed representatives from the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities, Peacekeeping Training Centres of Excellence and various partner institutions.”The workshop is being held under the theme, “Enhancing efficiency in mandate implementation: Reassessing capacity needs assessments”.

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Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the theme captures the continent’s shared commitment, not only to address the challenges it confronts, but also to seize the opportunities for growth and collaboration in mandate implementation.“As we deliberate, let us remain aware that lasting peace is born out of collaborative and home-grown peacekeeping interventions. “It is also an opportunity for us to share best practices and engage in enlightening discussions that will strengthen our collective efforts in peace-support operations in the region,” she said.The workshop aims to address several key objectives, including assessing progress and challenges. This will allow the delegates to take stock of where they are, identifying and analysing obstacles that may hinder efforts.Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri emphasised the need to examine training needs assessments to ensure that training is aligned with the requirements of peace support operations.

Noting the evolving nature of conflicts in the region – both traditional and non-traditional – she highlighted their increasing complexity, driven by local peculiarities and wider regional and international dynamics.“Peacekeepers continue to face personal risks as they are increasingly targeted by warring parties. “Resultantly, an increasing number of peacekeepers are being injured or killed in the line of duty,” she stated. The minister underscored that homegrown interventions are crucial for sustainable peace support operations in Africa.She also stressed the need to understand the global and local operating environment and its connection to peace support operations.

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