Story by Oleen Ndori
THE 17th African Standby Force Annual Training Implementation Workshop is underway in Harare, with deliberations focusing on standardising training guidelines and ensuring activities align with the African Union’s training policies and directives.
In May 2003, the African Chiefs of Defence Staff (ACDS) adopted a document that established the African Standby Force (ASF) and the Military Staff Committee (MSC).
The body was tasked with providing peacekeeping forces that are well-equipped to respond to calamities as requested by regional bodies, the African Union and the United Nations.
Over the years, the African Standby Forces have responded to conflicts in Somalia, South Sudan, Mozambique and the DRC, among other countries.
“In 2003, you gave us the task to launch and operationalise the African Standby Force. Since then, we have worked to put in place the structures you guided us through, the policy framework for the ASF and the military staff policy. Training and exercising have been key pillars because our capabilities come from countries with different doctrines and practices, but serving a common cause. The need to standardise and harmonise our processes makes training essential in converting policies, guiding documents and SOPs into practice so that we all operate with a shared understanding,” Head of Policy, evaluation and training unit- AU Peace Support Operations, Mr Eustace Chiwombe said.
Chief of Staff for the SADC Planning Element, Brigadier General Chere Makhetha, highlighted the importance of training in strengthening Africa’s peacekeeping capabilities.
“This gathering is a critical pillar of our collective efforts to ensure that the African Standby Force remains a professional and mission-ready instrument of Africa’s peace and security architecture. The workshop comes at a time when the peace and security landscape in Africa is evolving. From the SADC perspective, our commitment remains strong, acknowledging that training and readiness form the foundation of the ASF. This is where doctrine meets practice and training meets operational clarity.”
The Minister of Defence, Honourable Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri noted the shared commitment to addressing challenges that confront the continent.
“The current geopolitical environment, marked by competition for global influence and economic advantage, is bringing new security challenges to the region. Diplomacy and multilateralism are in decline, while unilateral measures are increasing. Understanding this evolving defence and security environment is crucial, as it affects the mandate and operations of the African Standby Force and our aspirations for sustainable peace and security,” she said.
“I urge you all to engage fully, share insights and collaborate. Together, we can enhance operational effectiveness and contribute to the peace and stability our nations desperately need. Peace support operations bring hope to conflict-affected areas, we must be able to deploy rapidly and operate innovatively. Importantly, we must consider the role and contributions of women in peace support operations, as their involvement is critical in achieving peace in Africa.”
The five-day training workshop is being held under the theme: ‘Enhancing Efficiency in Mandate Implementation: Reassessing Capacity Needs Assessments.’
