Cairo, Egypt – A Pre-Deployment Training (PDT) for Egyptian Special Forces Company joining the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) kicked off on Sunday. The training, held from 17-21 July 2022, is organized by CCCPA in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Defense. Pre-deployment trainings are supported through the current CCCPA project “Enhancing Peace, Security and Stability in Africa--VII (2021-2022)”, funded by the Government of Japan through UNDP. To date, Egypt’s total peacekeeping contribution to MINUSMA is 1240 peacekeepers.
The opening ceremony of the PDT was attended by officials from the Ministry of Defense, with remarks from Major General Mohamed Mahmoud Awad, Egyptian Airborne Forces Commander, Major General Alaa Kassem, Chief of the Liaison Agency with International Organisations (LAWIO), Ministry of Defense, as well as H.E. Ambassador Ahmed Abdel-Latif, the Director General of CCCPA, and H.E. Oka Hiroshi, the Ambassador of Japan to Egypt.
Major General Mohamed Mahmoud Awad, Egyptian Airborne Forces Commander, emphasized the Egyptian Armed Forces’ commitment towards supporting peace operations at the regional and international levels under the umbrella of the United Nations. On his part, Major General Alaa Kassem, Chief of the Liaison Agency with International Organisations (LAWIO), Ministry of Defense, pointed out the importance of continuing to support peacekeeping operations in countries experiencing instability in the region, stressing Egypt’s strong and longstanding relation with various African countries; thus, contributing towards enhancing stability and peace in the continent.
Ambassador Abdel-Latif, CCCPA Director General, provided an overview of Egypt’s key contribution to UN peacekeeping. He stressed on the priority Egypt attaches towards ensuring training of the highest standards for peacekeepers. He also paid tribute to the Egyptian peacekeepers who lost their lives earlier this month in Mali and highlighted the importance of ensuring the safety and security of peacekeepers. Moreover, he conveyed the center’s appreciation to the Government of Japan for the continuous and fruitful cooperation, as well as its support to CCCPA’s activities and programs, including pre-deployment trainings, in the context of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), which aims to advance comprehensive efforts across Africa towards development, peace and stability.
Ambassador Oka stated that Japan and Egypt constitute key partners in strengthening peace, security and prosperity in the Middle East and Africa region as well as around the world, including through close bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). In this respect, he praised Egypt’s contribution to UN peacekeeping operations as the 6th largest personnel contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, as well as Egyptian peacekeepers for their service and commitment to the cause of international peace and security, particularly in Africa. He also commended the longstanding partnership with CCCPA, which has been in place since 2008, and the center’s ongoing efforts in helping enhance peace and stability in Africa.
The training course is based on the UN’s Core Pre-Deployment Training Material (CPTM). Topics covered include an overview of the United Nations, Egypt’s role in peacekeeping operations, the legal framework of UN Peacekeeping, the organizational structure of UN peacekeeping missions and their main components, special measures for peacekeepers amidst COVID-19 pandemic in the work environment, safety and security for UN personnel, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), Rules of Engagement (ROE), United Nations Code of Conduct and Discipline, Protection of Civilians (POC), Child Protection, International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law, Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and gender needs in peacekeeping, Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), the history of Conflict in Mali, MINUSMA’s Security Council mandate, and peace and security activities in the mission.
According to Security Council Resolution 2640 (2022), the MINUSMA mandate includes (i) supporting the implementation of political and institutional reforms in the 2015 Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali; (ii) focusing on the restoration of State authority and the rule of law in the center; (iii) assisting in defense and security measures, especially those relating to a ceasefire, as well as taking reconciliation and justice measures to conduct inclusive, free, and fair elections. Moreover, other tasks involve the protection of civilians and the promotion of human rights along with humanitarian assistance, supporting projects for stabilization, weapons and ammunition management, reintegration of armed groups, and cooperation with sanctions committees.
