In cooperation with the African Union, CCCPA hosted the 9th Annual African Union Senior Mission Leaders training program (AU SML) during the period 20-31 October, 2014.

SML is an annual training conducted by the AU for senior civilian, police and military professional to prepare them for possible deployment in future AU or regional peacekeeping missions. Attending this year’s course were 12 senior professionals drawn from the 5 Regional Economic Communities in Africa (RECs), the AU Commission and the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). 

This year’s AU SML was scheduled to take place in West Africa, but given the current Ebola situation in the region, the AU approached CCCPA to host the training. This was the second time that CCCPA co-hosts this high-level event; the first being in May 2009. 

At the closing ceremony of the AU SML on 31 October, 2014, Counselor Ashraf Swelam, Director of CCCPA described the course as the "jewel of the crown" of AU training activities. Swelam reconfirmed Egypt’s readiness to extend its full support to all efforts aimed at achieving peace and security in Africa, including by providing the training and capacity building needed for African institutions and professionals.

Speaking on behalf of the African Union Commission, General Fred Houghton expressed his appreciation for CCCPA’s acceptance of hosting the training on a very short notice and for the professionalism by which the training was conducted. He expressed his wishes that AU SML be the beginning of a reinvigorated relationship between the AU and CCCPA. 

The hosting of this event comes within the context of the project “Enhancing the Capacity of Local Actors in Efforts to Improve Peace and Stability in North Africa, the Sahel and Great Lakes”, implemented by CCCPA, and funded by the Government of Japan, and in partnership with the United Nations Development Program.