Cairo, Egypt - CCCPA organized two pre-deployment trainings (PDT) for Egyptian military peacekeepers joining the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). 220 military peacekeepers attended the training from 8-13 September 2018. The second training,  held from 15-20 September 2018 was attended by 68 peacekeepers. The aim of such PDTs are to train and prepare peacekeepers before their deployment to Mali. Egypt’s total contribution to MINUSMA, to date, is 472 peacekeepers.

PDTs are held in collaboration between CCCPA and the Egyptian Ministry of Defense, in accordance with General Assembly resolution A/RES/49/37.

The training starts with a conflict analysis of the situation in Mali and MINUSMA’s mandate. The rest of the curriculum is based on the Core Pre- Deployment Training Material (CPTM), including UN peacekeeping principles, international humanitarian law and human rights, the rules of engagement, protection of civilians, the role of gender and women in peacekeeping, and preventing sexual exploitation and abuse.

According to Security Council Resolution 2423 in 2018, 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 centre; (iii) working on a “Pact for Peace” between the Malian Government and the United Nations ahead of presidential elections; (iv) assisting in defense and security measures in the agreement, 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 promoting human rights along with humanitarian assistance without prejudice to Malian authorities, supporting projects for stabilization, weapons and ammunition management, reintegration of armed groups, and cooperation with sanctions committees.

Pre-deployment trainings come under the current CCCPA project "Consolidating Peace, Security and Stability in Africa--IV (2018-2019)”. The project is financed by the Government of Japan in partnership with UNDP.

Photo Credit: Flickr