AU Signs MoU for Training

Juliana Taiwo (ThisDay)--The African Union (AU), yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Peace Support Training Centre (APSTA), for the training of African military personnel.

This is as former Head of State andPatron of Association of Peace-keeping Trainers in Africa, General Abubakar Abbulsalami (rtd), has described as frustrating, the continued crisis in Darfur, adding that there is no longer a clear cut distinction between the actors.

Commandant of the Nigerian Defence College (NDC), Rear Admiral John Jonah,who isPresident of APSTA, said it was a pragmatic step aimed at realising its dream of having a stand-by force for peace-keeping operations in the continent.
The Commandant, at a media round-table in Abuja, yesterday, disclosed thatAPSAT would make use of the three centres of excellence accredited by the United Nations, to train the military personnel.

He said the training would focus on doctrines of peace-keeping operations, adding that all the regions in Africa have been directed to put in place a stand-by Brigade that could be deployed to trouble zone at short notice. The meeting of APSTA during the conference of the International Association of Peace Training Centre (IAPTC), would also focus on sources of funding.

In his remark,President of the IAPTC, Mr Jones Alberoth, said the training centre was concerned about giving modern training to military personnel who take part in peace-keeping operations, with a view to making them truly professional.

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