CAR: Peacekeeper capacity building session ends

Two contingents of constituted peacekeeping units have ended an intensive capacity building training on Law Enforcement ahead of their deployment in the Central African Republic.

The Cameroonian contingents composed principally of Gendarmerie officers were taught how to reinforce existing peace building efforts within the framework of the United Nations Mission, MINUSCA.

The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence in Charge of the National Gendarmerie, Jean Baptiste Bokam, while handing over end of course attestations to the officers noted that the present war against Boko Haram should not undermine the army’s resolve to assist the Central African Republic.

He called on the officers, now set for deployment, to scrupulously respect international standards in carrying out their mission especially in relation to human rights and collective liberties.

Jean Baptiste Bokam said the training was organized with technical assistance from the American cooperation. It is intended to boost ongoing efforts to restore peace and security in the neighbouring CAR plagued by internal political conflict.

The officers are just part of the larger CAR contingent who were trained at the Law Enforcement Training Centre in Yaounde in 2012 on issues of internal security.

Concomitantly with the training, some senior police and Gendarmerie officers in charge on ensuring discipline attended a refresher course at the International Academy for Security Forces, EIFORCES.

The gendarmerie boss insinuated that the training is indispensible in peace support operations.

Similar training will be organised in other countries of the ECCAS sub regions.